Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said in a press conference Wednesday evening that he was \"very surprised\" by the news. \"I really had no idea this was in the works,\" he said.
Alvarez said family considerations motivated Andersen's decision.
\"I thought Gary was a good fit,\" Alvarez said. \"There was never any talk about, 'Some day I'd like to get back to that part of the country.' When you're away for a while maybe that settles in. I don't know that. Those are things you may want to ask him.\"
Alvarez said he wants to have a new coach in place by January 1. He said he is looking for someone with head coaching experience but the candidate doesn't need to have Wisconsin ties.
\"My phone is ringing off the hook already,\" Alvarez said. \"Word is just starting to leak out and I'll be very busy tonight answering phone calls from agents and coaches.
\"I'll try to make contact with people ... and try to move as quickly as we possibly can through our system and the process we have to follow,\" he said. \"My goal would be to have somebody in place certainly before the bowl game.\"
Wisconsin plays Auburn in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day. Alvarez said the seniors have asked him to coach the team in that game, and he will make a decision on that soon.
Wisconsin star running back Melvin Gordon, a Heisman finalist who announced his intention to enter the NFL Draft earlier in the day, weighed in on the news at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Wednesday night.
\"I was shocked,\" Gordon said. \"Didn't see it coming. Thought he'd be there a long time ... He seemed happy. He was smiling. I saw no sign of this.\"
Gordon, who spoke to Andersen earlier in the evening, said of their conversation, \"He said he had to do what was best for him. He sounded hurt. I heard hurt in his voice.\"
Andersen was 19-7 in two seasons with the Badgers. Prior to going to Wisconsin, Andersen compiled a 26-22 record in four seasons as head coach at Utah State, including an 11-2 record in 2012 when he was named WAC Coach of the Year.
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