Alvarez will reportedly coachin Rose Bowl
Returning to sideline
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| Former Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema (left) celebrates with athletic director Barry Alvarez after Wisconsin defeated Nebraska 70-31 to win the Big Ten championship Saturday in Indianapolis. (AP) |
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Wisconsin has found a short-term answer to its Rose Bowl coaching problem, and it's a familiar face.
It is being reported that Athletic Director Barry Alvarez, who led the school to three Rose Bowl victories, will return to the sideline to coach the Badgers against Stanford.
Alvarez will replace Bret Bielema, who shocked the school this week by taking the head coaching job at Arkansas.
The Wisconsin State Journal reported that Badgers captains asked Alvarez to coach the team in the Rose Bowl and that he accepted.
Bielema confirmed the Alvarez-to-coach report at his introductory news conference at Arkansas.
Alvarez is a Hall of Fame coach who retired in 2005 to become Wisconsin athletic director after handpicking Bielema to be his successor.
Alvarez knows one thing Bielema doesn't know about the Rose Bowl – how to win one. Alvarez was 3-0 in the game while Bielema is 0-2 after the Badgers lost each of the last 2 years.
Alvarez file
Age: 65
College coaching career: Iowa linebackers coach 1979-1986; Notre Dame linebackers coach 1987; Notre Dame defensive coordinator 1988-1989; Wisconsin head coach 1990-2005
Head coaching career: 118-73-4; 8-3 in bowls; 3 Big Ten championships (1993, 1998, 1999)
FYI: College Football Hall of Fame inductee (2010). ... Wisconsin athletic director from 2005 until present
