Wisconsin Football Coach Search Includes Chris Petersen, Al Golden, And Others

Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez confirmed Thursday he will coach the Badgers in the Rose Bowl against Stanford, and also gave an update on his program’s coaching search.

Alvarez reportedly is focusing on current head coaches, and but did not rule out assistants at top programs.

The favorite after Bret Bielema suddenly bolted for Arkansas was Paul Chryst out of Pittsburgh, but Chryst quickly squashed any connection to the vacancy, and Alvarez did the same.

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, some new names have now emerged:

Al Golden

Hired in 2010 to turn around the once stored Miami Hurricanes program, Golden has gone 13-11 in two seasons, but his ties to top college programs and the NFL could make him a top choice.

Golden played his college ball at Penn State in the early 1980s, and after one-year as a tight end in the NFL, served as linebacker coach and recruiting coordinator for the Nittany Lions.

Paul Rhoads

Rhoads joined Iowa State in 2009 and while he’s only gone 24-26, his best attribute has been his time as an assistant in the SEC, Big Ten, and Big East.

Chris Petersen

Succeeding Dan Dawkins in 2006, Petersen has led Boise State to 83-8 record, including 4-2 in bowl games. The 48-year-old signed an extension earlier this year, and currently makes around $2 million a season. Petersen would probably be the most expensive choice.

Willie Taggart

Taggart became the first ever African-American head coach in Western Kentucky’s history in 2009 and is the youngest coach in division one at age 36. Taggart avoided comment when asked about coaching vacancies around the country on Wednesday.

Alvarez has said he wants a power running game to be the focus of the Badgers offense, and Taggart was the running backs coach at Stanford the three seasons before he joined the Hilltoppers.