Alvarez: Wisconsin coach search ongoing

Madison, WI (SportsNetwork.com) – Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said Friday the search for the new Badgers football coach is still ongoing.

Early Friday morning, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that Pittsburgh coach Paul Chryst would be the choice to take the vacancy created when Gary Andersen decided to leave for the Oregon State job earlier this week.

Alvarez, who will coach the Badgers in the Outback Bowl against Auburn on Jan. 1, did not mention any names in a statement Friday.

“We are continuing the process of finding our new head football coach,” said Alvarez. “We have not offered the position to anyone. In accordance with University of Wisconsin hiring policies, the earliest we could make an offer to a candidate is Wednesday, Dec. 17. Any accepted offer would be contingent upon approval by the UW System Board of Regents.”

Chryst has compiled a 19-19 record in three seasons at Pittsburgh, which will play Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl on Jan. 2.

The 49-year-old Madison native was a Wisconsin quarterback from 1986-88, a tight ends coach with the Badgers in 2002 and the offensive coordinator from 2005-11.

Chryst has also worked as a tight ends coach with the San Diego Chargers from 1999-2001 and has served as an assistant at Oregon State, Illinois State and UW-Platteville.

Categorized in: NCAA Football