Wisconsin Football Head Coach Search: Latest News and Speculation on Position

The Wisconsin Badgers have replaced Gary Andersen with former Pitt head coach Paul Chryst, the team announced on Wednesday.

Continue for updates.

Wednesday, Dec. 17

Wisconsin Introduces Chryst as New Head Coach

Wisconsin announced they have concluded their head coaching search:

Brett McMurphy of ESPN previously reported Chryst resigned from Pitt on Wednesday:

Wisconsin Announces Head Coach Press Conference

Dan Woken of USA Today reports that the Badgers will hold a press conference on Wednesday regarding their head coaching position: 

Tuesday, Dec. 16 

Chryst Meets With Wisconsin, Reportedly Will Be Next Head Coach

Scout.com's Benjamin Worgull reports Chryst will be announced as the head coach on Wednesday:

Jerry DiPaola of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reported Chryst met with officials in Madison:

"

Pitt coach Paul Chryst told his players and coaching staff that he is leaving for Madison, Wis., on Tuesday to speak to University of Wisconsin officials about their coaching vacancy, multiple sources told the Tribune-Review.

After practice Tuesday, Chryst called his players together to make the announcement. He did not say he has been offered the job, or would accept it. He also didn't say he was staying at Pitt. 

 

"

Friday, Dec. 12

Candidates Continue to be Interviewed

Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports the latest on the Badgers' head coaching search from athletic director Barry Alvarez:

Alvarez Denies Offer Made

Wisconsin football's official Twitter feed gave an update from athletic director Barry Alvarez:

Chryst Reportedly to Accept Position 

Jeff Potrykus of the Journal Sentinel reported just after midnight ET on Friday that Pittsburgh coach Paul Chryst will be the next coach at Wisconsin: 

"

Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez wasted little time in identifying, pursuing and securing a a head coach to replace for Gary Andersen. 

According to a source close to the UW program, former UW assistant Paul Chryst is poised to return to his alma mater.

“I thought this would be the scenario from Day 1,” the source told the Journal Sentinel. “He will put together a good staff.”

"

Thursday, Dec. 11

Chryst to Meet With Barry Alvarez

Badger Beat provides an update on Pitt coach Paul Chryst's involvement:

Bo Pelini in Mix for Badgers Coaching Job

Clint Brewster of 247 Sports has the latest on Wisconsin's search:

Alvarez Will Coach Outback Bowl

ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit reports that Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez will coach the Badgers in the Outback Bowl:

Wednesday, Dec. 10

Wisconsin Kicks off Coach Search After Andersen Departure

For the second time in three seasons, the University of Wisconsin has been left reeling as its head football coach departs for a less successful program. Gary Andersen officially tendered his resignation Wednesday and was immediately announced as the next head coach at Oregon State.

Andersen, 50, will take over for Mike Riley, who departed for Nebraska earlier this month after more than a decade in Corvallis.

The move was a shock to many given the disparity in success between the two programs. Oregon State has reached double-digit wins only twice in its football program history, which dates back to 1893. Wisconsin has hit the double-digit mark three times since 2009 and is a perennial contender in the Big Ten. Andersen's departure comes two seasons after Bret Bielema left for Arkansas in a similarly eye-opening situation.

Wisconsin athletics director Barry Alvarez said in a statement:

"

I began working to find a new coach as soon as I spoke with Gary this morning. My first concern is taking care of the players on the current team, especially the senior class, and ensuring that their bowl experience is a memorable one. I will find a head coach to uphold the great tradition at Wisconsin, someone who is committed to excellence both on and off the field.

"

Brent Yarina of the Big Ten Network added more from Alvarez:

Bleacher Report's Michael Felder discussed his take on who should take over for Andersen:

Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated threw out a multitude of names as potential replacements, highlighted by former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano:

Schiano, 48, was out of football in 2014 after being fired by the Buccaneers following a frustrating two-season run. He's had much more success at the collegiate level, where he went 68-67 in 11 seasons at Rutgers.

A complete nonentity when Schiano took over the job, he left having built Rutgers into a program respectable enough to earn a Big Ten Conference invite.

Bill Feig/Associated Press

Paul Chryst is a the current head coach at Pittsburgh and served as a longtime assistant at Wisconsin, most notably as an offensive coordinator from 2005 to 2011. Dave Clawson has no ties to the university and struggled in his first season at Wake Forest, but as Thamel notes, he finished second behind Andersen in the school's most recent coaching search.

Pro Football Talk threw out Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who is expected to draw NFL head coaching interest, as a potential candidate:

Bevell is, of course, one of the most decorated quarterbacks in Wisconsin history. His arrival in Madison was one of the defining moments in Alvarez turning around the Badgers program, as Bevell led them to their first Rose Bowl victory in 1994. Not only is Bevell's name hot in coaching circles, but his close relationship with Alvarez undoubtedly makes him an interesting target.

That said, there is a reason this seemingly great job has been vacated twice in the past 24 months. Adam Rittenberg of ESPN noted that Wisconsin's academic policies left Andersen "frustrated":

It's unlikely we'll see an entire university bend its academic standards more to appease the football program. But it'll nonetheless be interesting to see whether those factors play into Alvarez's coaching search.

After being dumped twice in such succession, Wisconsin needs to find someone who will stick around.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter