Despite reports of an enhanced financial package being approved, it appears that Wisconsin is not out of the woods just yet when it comes to losing offensive coordinator Paul Chryst.
UW athletic director Barry Alvarez confirmed Wednesday that the San Francisco 49ers have requested permission to speak to Chryst. Alvarez told the Wisconsin State Journal that he is uncertain whether the coordinator has spoken to the NFL club or has plans to do so.
Chryst is apparently good friends with new 49ers and former Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh, who today hired Chryst’s brother Geep as quarterbacks/tight ends coach. Paul Chryst has in the past expressed a desire to someday coach with his brother, although it’s unclear what position Harbaugh would have him fill; last week, he named ex-Cardinal assistant Greg Roman as his coordinator.
The 49ers are the second NFL team Chryst’s found his name attached to in the past couple of months; shortly before Jason Garrett had the interim title stripped away, he was rumored to be a candidate to fill a position on Garrett’s Dallas Cowboys staff.
Additionally, Chryst’s been connected to head-coaching vacancies at Vanderbilt and Pittsburgh. There was also reportedly an offer on the table for Chryst to take the coordinator’s job at Texas.
Tuesday, it was confirmed that new compensation packages had been put together for Chryst and UW head coach Bret Bielema and is simply waiting for approval from the school’s regents. The raises would add $316,668 to the 2010-11 athletic department budget, although the breakdown per coach is not available.
Chryst made just over $360,000 in 2010.