APWhen Bret Bielema left Wisconsin to take the head coaching job at Arkansas earlier this week, one of the first names that shot to the top of the unofficial “short list” for the Badgers was Pitt head coach Paul Chryst.
However, Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez shot down the idea of Chryst returning to Madison on Thursday when he announced that he would be “coaching” the Badgers in the Rose Bowl against Stanford.
Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez says he doesn’t think it’d be appropriate for #Pitt coach Paul Chryst to leave after one year.
— Chris Peak (@PantherLair) December 6, 2012
As if Alvarez needed to be any more specific, he said directly ”Paul’s going to stay at Pitt.”
Chryst was wildly successful as the former Badgers offensive coordinator from 2005-11 and guided the Panthers to a 6-6 season in his first year in Pittsburgh. His name was bound to come up, but Chryst released a statement two days ago pledging his loyalty to Pitt and it looks as though that’s going to be the case for at least a little while longer.
That’s a good thing for the Panthers. Chryst is the program’s sixth different head coach in the past three years. Losing him after one year given the recent coaching turnover would have been a crushing blow.
That sucks!!! He was my #1 guy
I now guarantee that it will be Darrell Bevell
Classy move by a class guy. That’s why I’ve always been a fan of the Badgers.
Of course he hails from Western Pa. Wish he was Pitt’s AD.
If Wisconsin is smart they would look at the MAC—they do seem to do better with less than most of the current B1g 10 coaches.
Wow…integrity in college football still exists. Coach Alvarez is a good man.
It’s going to be a name that no one even thought of at the start of all this that gets the job.
I don’t think Chryst would have left anyway. He seems real committed to Pitt. He is still young so he may be in the running again in the future if Alvarez’s next choice fails.
Thinking that the favorite for the job is Mel Tucker. Dark horse is Diaco (same lineage as Alvarez). The no-chance-so-quit-talking-about-him pick, Chris Petersen.
chris peterson is not coming to madison. Hell they might even go after gary paterson or a nfl guy to come in and be hard noise pound the rock to finish off the three yards and a cloud of dust theory
Bob Diaco (and history repeats itself)
Paul Rhodes. Gut tells me that’s the guy.
Mark Dantonio will be announced the new head coach at Wisconsin, with in a week. Mark it down.
In the big ten we don’t recruit like the SEC. We don’t want to be like the SEC. We are the Big Ten and that means something! What’s that Arkansas? I got the job? WOOOOO PIG SOOOOIEEEE!!! We’ll never forget you BRENT.
ON Wisconsin!!
Now that Petersen isn’t coming either that flat out sucks. Definitely not the reputation of top tier schools, but right there at next level, thanks to Barry and Bielema’s work.
I hope Barry finds someone that has experience with the program and/or is committed long term to WI.
Keep hearing about Mel Tucker from JAX Jags. Former Badger, moving up to asst head coach in JAX. Scary part may be that he might be on short list for NFL gigs.
Barry has a lot to juggle with prepping team for Rose Bowl and finding a new coach.
That’s a lotta class that Barry just showed, a lotta class !
It takes a special man to want to stay at a school that brings a loyal following of 25-35,000 to every home game.
How would Frank Solich work in Madison? He’s a pretty sold person and done a good job where he’s been. Has he not paid he’s dues?