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Alvarez to coach Badgers in the Rose Bowl (Update)

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Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, who already has a 3-0 record as a coach in Rose Bowl games, will coach the Badgers against

Barry Alvarez

Stanford in the New Years Day Rose Bowl game in Pasadena.

A source close to the program said the teams captains asked Alvarez to coach the team and he has accepted.  Alvarez will discuss the decision, as well as Bret Bielema’s departure to Arkansas at a 10am news conference in Madison on Thursday.

Bielema, at his introductory news conference in Arkansas earlier today, spilled the news on Alvarez and the Rose Bowl.

AUDIO: Bret Bielema on Barry Alvarez coaching the Badgers in the Rose Bowl :11

Alvarez captured Rose Bowl victories as the head coach of the Badgers in 1994, 1999 and 2000.

Bielema introduced as the new coach at Arkansas (AUDIO)

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Former Wisconsin Badger head coach Bret Bielema was officially introduced today as the new coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Bret Bielema introduced as new coach at Arkansas

 

AUDIO: A.D. Jeff Long made the official announcement

Unlike when he took over in Madison 7-years ago, Bret Bielema takes over a program that is coming off a losing season (4-8).  He’ll have to rebuild a program that competes in the best college football conference in the country (SEC). 

Bielema posted a 68-24 record at Wisconsin, which means he’s hardly had to play much as an underdog.  But that’s where the Razorbacks are as he takes over.

AUDIO: Bret Bielema said they’re the underdogs for now :24

The first order of business for Bielema is to meet with the current coaching staff at Arkansas.  He said there’ll be no coaching moves made until he meets with the current staff.  That process will start at 9am Thursday morning. [Read more…]

Bielema introduced officially as new head coach at Arkansas today

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Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long officially introduced former Badger head coach Bret Bielema as the new head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks at a news conference this afternoon.

AUDIO: Arkansas A.D. Jeff Long introduces Bret Bielema this afternoon :13

I’m working on editing Bielema’s audio at the moment and will update this story later.

In related news, Wisconsin’s athletic director Barry Alvarez has called a 10am news conference on Thursday at the Kohl Center media room to announce his plans for the New Years Day Rose Bowl in Pasadena. 

There’s been reports that Alvarez may coach the team on an interim basis for the Rose Bowl.

Bret Bielema, speaking at his introductory news conference on Arkansas, said it would be awesome to see Alvarez, 3-0 in Rose Bowl games, coach the Badgers against Stanford. 

“They might finally win one,” said Bielema, who is 0-2 in Rose Bowl games.

Podcast: Bill Scott discusses Badger football with Brian Posick

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Bret Bielema will be officially introduced as Arkansas’s new head football coach this afternoon in Fayetteville. 

I talked with WTSO Sports Director Brian Posick in Madison about the events of the last 24 hours and where Bret Bielema’s departure leaves the University of Wisconsin.

AUDIO: Bill Scott talks Badger football with Brian Posick 11:10

Alvarez may coach Badgers in the Rose Bowl

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While Barry Alvarez is already searching for Bret Bielema’s replacement as head football coach in Madison, and Wisconsin’s athletic

Barry Alvarez

director may pick himself to coach the team in the New Years Day Rose Bowl game against Stanford in less than a month.

According to  story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reporter Jeff Potrykus says the tip comes from a source close to the UW program. 

Bielema took the head coaching job at Arkansas on Tuesday, met with his Badger players early Tuesday evening, then boarded a plan for Arkansas. 

According to some of his former players in Madison, Bielema saw the opportunity to go to Arkansas as a better chance to win a National Championship than he had in Madison.

AUDIO: Montee Ball asked why Bielema left Wisconsin :02

In an Arkansas release on Tuesday night, Bielema said, “I am very humbled and honored to become the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks.  During my conversation with Jeff (Long) he described the characteristics for the perfect fit to lead this program.  It was evident we share the same mission, principles and goals.” [Read more…]

Who’s next in Madison for the Badgers (AUDIO)

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Why are the Wisconsin Badgers playing in a third straight Rose Bowl, primarily because of their defense.  That’s why defensive coordinator Chris Ash could get a strong look from Wisconsin Athletic Director Chris Ash to replace Bret Bielema as head coach in Madison.

Wisconsin held eight opponents to 14 points or fewer in four quarters of action, including six straight games. 

In his first season as co-defensive coordinator last season, Ash’s defensive unit ranked 13th in the country in scoring defense (19.0) points a game and 15th in the nation in total defense.  Ten of the Badgers’ 14 opponents failed to score more than 17 points. [Read more…]

Barry Alvarez statement on departure of Bret Bielema

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University of Wisconsin Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez issued the following statement on the departure of Bret Bielema, who

Barry Alvarez

has been named the head football coach at the University of Arkansas.

“I was very surprised when Bret told me he was taking the offer from Arkansas.  He did a great job for us during his seven years as head coach, both on the field and off.  I want to thank him for his work and wish him the best at Arkansas.

“I have a responsibility to our student-athletes, our football family and our fans, one that I take very seriously.  It is my responsibility to ensure that the football program continues at a high level, and I have already started the process of trying to find a new head coach.

“Along with finding a new coach, my other main objective is to make sure that our student-athletes, specifically our seniors playing in their final game as Badgers, have a tremendous experience in the Rose Bowl.  We will do everything within our power to make that happen.

AUDIO: Badger fans react 1:00

 

Bielema to the SEC is a complete shocker! (AUDIO)

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Nobody in Madison or the state of Wisconsin for that matter saw this coming.  It’s tough to call anyone a lifer these days, but Bret

Bret Bielema at Big Ten Championship

Bielema appeared to be quite entrenched with his position in Madison.

Winning three straight Big Ten titles and getting the Wisconsin Badgers to three straight Rose Bowls made Bielema larger than life in Madison.  Only the Michigan Wolverines have ever made it to three straight games in Pasadena.

Bielema referred many times to his upcoming 2013 class on paper as perhaps his best ever.  So the Badgers stand to be better next season.

Throw in the fact that Bielema hates everything the SEC stands for.  Now he’s trading in his cowhide boots for the snake-skin variety down in SEC country. 

Bielema complained of Urban Meyer’s (Ohio State head coach) recruiting tactics, and how after a little more than two months on the job, Meyer has already gotten under the skin of his new Big Ten colleagues.  Bielema even went as far as saying in his National Signing Day press conference that Meyer was using “illegal” recruiting practices.  He echoed those thoughts to The Sporting News. [Read more…]

Arkansas confirms hiring of Bielema (AUDIO)

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Bret Bielema

The University of Arkansas confirmed this afternoon, the hiring of Wisconsin Badger football coach Bret Bielema to be the next head coach of the Razorbacks. 

Bielema took over at Wisconsin in 2006 and led the school to its first 11-win regular season in his first year on the job. 

According to a report from ArkansasBusiness.com, Bielema will earn an annual salary of $3.2-million a year for 5-years.  His annual salary in Madison is reported to be $2.59-million per year.

Bielema led the Badgers to a third straight Rose Bowl after Wisconsin blew out Nebraska 70-31 in the Big Ten Title game last Saturday.  That victory made him an even hotter commodity among coaching candidates to move.

Bielema will replace John L. Smith, who coached one season at Arkansas and led the Razorbacks to a 4-8 record.  It’ll be Bielema’s job to help stabilize the program quickly and get the Arkansas pointed back into an SEC contender.

AUDIO: Bob Hague discusses Bret Bielema’s departure with WTSO’s Phil Dawson 4:30

Reports say Arkansas to hire Bielema (update)

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Bret Bielema celebrates Big Ten title

Various news agencies are reporting that Wisconsin Badger football coach Bret Bielema, just days after leading the Badgers to the Big Ten title, has accepted the vacant coaching position at Arkansas.

Arkansas is expected to officially announce Bielema’s hiring sometime today.

Bielema went 68-24 in his seven seasons with the Badgers, including an 8-5 mark this season.

Wisconsin has yet to make any announcement regarding the move and won’t likely do so until Arkansas first announces the hiring.  Then, the Badgers will have to decide if they want Bielema to coach the team in next month’s Rose Bowl game against the Stanford Cardinal.

Arkansas is looking to re-stabilize their football program after the controversial firing of former coach Bobby Petrino this past April.  The Razorbacks went 4-8 this season under John L. Smith.