Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
In a stunning move, the University of Wisconsin has fired head coach Paul Chryst after a 2-3 start to the season, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.
SOURCE: Paul Chryst is out as #Wisconsin coach. Jim Leonhard will be the team's interim coach. Announcement will be coming shortly.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 2, 2022
Chryst became Wisconsin’s head football coach in 2015 after three years as the head man at Pittsburgh. He was previously the Badgers’ offensive coordinator from 2005 to 2011. In his seven years, he led Wisconsin to seven bowl games, resulting in six victories. They won the Big Ten West three times but fell to Ohio State twice and Penn State once.
The bizarre part about this is that Chryst just earned a five-year contract extension in January. Ultimately, the rough start to the season wasn’t enough to save Chryst as Athletic Director Chris McIntosh is making one thing crystal clear: Wisconsin is a better program than what is being put on the field right now.
Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh said he fired Paul Chryst because it is “what is in the long-term best interest of our football program”
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) October 3, 2022
Rising star and defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard will take over the program for the rest of the season. I would not be shocked if Leonhard remains the coach beyond this season as well.
