Coaching Carousel (Wisconsin)

Wisconsin Badgers

It's safe to say that nobody really saw Bret Bielema leaving.  Bielema has had a ton of success at Wisconsin.  The Badgers have won the Big 10 three straight years and will also be playing in their third straight Rose Bowl.  Bielema has won 68 games in his seven years and has made it a bowl game year in and year out.  He's lead the Badgers to three top 10 seasons and in 2011 he was two hail mary throws away from competing for a National Title.  Why would Bielema leave a program that had a chance to win the Big 10 every year and getting to a National Title every couple of years?  But Bielema left because he thought he'd have a better chance of winning a National Championship in the SEC and at a school like Arkansas.  Add in that they paid him some good money and he was tired of being in Barry Alvarez's shadow and it becomes no longer a surprise why he left.

One thing is for certain.  Who ever is hired as the next Wisconsin coach is going to be walking into a good situation.  The foundation is set.  Current AD Barry Alvarez built the program and a lot of what he has done has continued.  The team loses some key players (Monte Ball, Ricky Wagner, and Mike Taylor) but still return a deep team that knows how to win.  Alvarez has done a great job of keeping the search close to the vest, but the Badgers should be able to get an accomplished coach who can carry on the tradition of Wisconsin football.  Here are a few names that are in the running.

Potential Candidates

Paul Chryst (Pittsburgh Head Coach)
It was Chryst's name that came up right away when the job opened.  And why not, Chryst was born in Madison, played at Wisconsin, and was a coach for the Badgers on two separate occasions (most recently as their OC).  Chryst is considered an offensive guru and it showed in his final season with the Badgers.  He just finished up his first year as a head coach at Pitt.  Chryst has openly said that he is committed to Pitt and has no interest in the Wisconsin job.  But with the fact that the job search has been so quiet, it's hard not to think that Chryst is actually considering it.  He would still be my favorite to get this job.

Mel Tucker (Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive Coordinator)
Tucker is another alumn of the school who is getting a lot of attention for the job.  Tucker is currently the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars and has been a coordinator in Cleveland and with Ohio State.  Tucker's teams have always statistically been regarded as the best in the NFL.  Tucker has stated that he's not interested, but reports have been out that he's actually interviewed for the job.  Both Alvarez and Bielema had defensive backgrounds, that could help in Tucker's favor.  If Chryst is serious about him not wanting the job, it could be Tucker's to lose.

Darrell Bevell (Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator)
Here is another former Badger player that could be the next Wisconsin head coach.  Bevell is a former QB for the Badgers who helped current AD Barry Alvarez win the first Rose Bowl in the school's history.  For the past seven year's he's been the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings and now currently with the Seattle Seahawks.  Bevell is a West Coast Offense guy and in Seattle he's help develop a team that is a physical smash mouth rushing attack.  Something that fits in well in Madison.  The problem with Bevell is that he's spent a majority of his time in the NFL and has little experience coaching in college.  Bevell also has never been a head coach.  But with Tucker and Chyrst both openly saying that they aren't interested, Bevell could be the top choice if Alvarez wants to hire somebody with connections. 

Matt Campbell (Toledo Head Coach)
One name that has been floated out there is Matt Campbell from Toledo.  Campbell is young (33) and has only been a head coach for a year.  But he is a hot name in the coaching circles and probably won't be at Toledo for many years.  But there has been talk that Alvarez has talked with Campbell and that could give the program somebody that will be around for a while.  However you have to wonder how good of a fit would Campbell be.  Campbell is known for a spread offense and that doesn't fit with Wisconsin so well.  He has also only coached for a year and that along with age make it difficult for him in the Big 10.  Campbell is probably a long shot, but with reports of Alvarez possible coaching next year too, he could have Campbell come in and  be the "coach in waiting,"

Chris Peterson (Boise State Head Coach)
I'm not one to just throw Peterson's name out there like a lot of other people do.  Peterson is a west coast guy and probably won't take another job unless it is the perfect fit and likely on the west coast.  However Wisconsin might be the job that doesn't fit his desire to coach out west but is a good fit for him.  Although some may feel that Wisconsin's style of play doesn't fit Peterson, that isn't true.  Peterson has run a run based offense that uses a lot of motion and different formations.  That's exactly what the Badgers have been over the past couple of years.  Madison is also relatively tucked away and has the Packers that takes most of the attention in the state.  That fits into Peterson who isn't a big fan of the media.  Does Peterson take this job?  Probably not, but I wouldn't be shocked if he did.