Report: Paul Chryst to Wisconsin
— -- Former Wisconsin assistant and current Pittsburgh coach Paul Chryst is poised to become the Badgers' new head coach, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Thursday night, citing a source.
Chryst would replace Gary Andersen, who left the Badgers earlier this week after two seasons to take the head-coaching job at Oregon State.
The source told the Journal Sentinel that Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, who flew to Tampa, Florida, Thursday for an Outback Bowl promotion, was able to meet with Chryst.
Chryst is in his third season as Pitt's coach, with an overall record of 19-19. He was hired in December 2011 to replace Todd Graham, who bolted for Arizona State after less than a year on the job. That made Chryst Pitt's fourth coach in 13 months, following Dave Wannstedt, Mike Haywood and Graham, who left for the Sun Devils after a 6-6 season.
"It is our practice not to comment on the personnel searches of other institutions," Pittsburgh said in a statement, according to the Journal Sentinel. "Paul Chryst is the University of Pittsburgh's head coach, has been recruiting all week on behalf of the program and will begin preparations for Pitt's bowl game this weekend."
Pittsburgh will face Houston in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Friday, Jan. 2 on the campus of TCU.
This would mark a return for Chryst, a Madison native, to Wisconsin, where he was quarterback for the Badgers from 1986 to '88, served as the Badgers' tight ends coach in 2002, and oversaw the offense from 2005 to '11. His résumé also includes a stint as tight ends coach with the San Diego Chargers from 1999 to 2001 and assistant coaching positions with Oregon State, Illinois State and UW-Platteville.
As Oregon State's offensive coordinator, he oversaw a 2003 Beavers squad that became the first team in NCAA Division I history to have a 4,000-yard passer (current Carolina Panthers QB Derek Anderson), a 1,500-yard rusher (current Atlanta Falcons running back Steven Jackson) and two 1,000-yard receivers (James Newson and Mike Hass).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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