Bret Bielema shocked both his boss and most of the college football world by leaving Wisconsin for Arkansas earlier this month.
Apparently, the Badgers are trying to do the same in its search for a replacement.
According to CBSSports.com, and citing two sources with direct knowledge of the situation, UW athletic director Barry Alvarez will interview long-time Oregon State head coach Mike Riley in the not-too-distant future. No other details were provided in the report, and OSU has yet to respond to a request for comment on the reported development.
If Riley were to leave the Beavers (see what I did there?), it would be no less stunning than Bielema’s departure.
Riley has spent 12 of the past 16 seasons in Corvallis as the Beavers’ head coach, leaving for a four-year stint (1999-2002) in the NFL. His 81 wins are the most in school history.
Additionally, and during a coaching career that stretches back to 1975, Riley has never coached collegiately at any school that was east of the Rocky Mountains.
The out-of-the-blue Riley news comes on the same day that reports surfaced connecting Al Golden to UW. After reportedly being offered the job, Golden ultimately opted to remain at Miami.
UPDATED 10:29 p.m. ET: The following is a tweet from Lindsay Schnell of the Oregonian.
“Oregon State athletic director Bob De Carolis says he has heard nothing about Riley interviewing for Wisconsin job.”
“Kind of funny report since it’s inaccurate,” tweeted Cliff Kirkpatrick of the Corvallis Gazette-Times said in regards to the initial report.
So, there’s that.