Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen unexpectedly stepped down Wednesday to become head coach at Oregon State. ADVERTISING Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen unexpectedly stepped down Wednesday to become head coach at Oregon State. Andersen, the Badgers’ coach for the past two seasons,
Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen unexpectedly stepped down Wednesday to become head coach at Oregon State.
Andersen, the Badgers’ coach for the past two seasons, informed the team of his decision Wednesday afternoon, the school said. Wisconsin finished 10-3 this season under Andersen and will play in the Outback Bowl against Auburn on Jan. 1.
Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said the search for Andersen’s successor had already started. Alvarez said he would consider coaching the team in the bowl game himself after several players asked him, but had not made a final decision.
Alvarez said Andersen made the move for personal reasons.
Mike Riley left the Pac-12’s Beavers to accept the Nebraska job after the dismissal of Bo Pelini. Oregon State finished this season 5-7 and out of the postseason picture.
Oregon State will introduce Andersen as the 28th coach in team history at a news conference Friday. The announcement of his hiring came the same day Oregon State announced extensive renovation plans for its football facilities.
“We have hired the right coach,” Oregon State athletic director Bob De Carolis said. “We are investing in the new and expanded facilities he needs, including the $42 million makeover of the Valley Football Center we announced earlier today. We are ready to have Gary take us to the next level.”
Andersen was 19-7 in his two seasons as Wisconsin’s coach. He came to the Badgers from Utah State, where he spent four seasons. He also had a short stint as head coach at Southern Utah in 2003 before becoming an assistant at Utah. He’s 49-38 overall as a head coach.
Andersen thanked Wisconsin in a prepared statement.
“We worked very hard together and accomplished some great things,” Andersen said. “I had the opportunity to meet and coach some great young men and I look forward to watching them as they continue their careers and move through life.”
The Badgers had an inconsistent season, losing two of their first five games but recovering to win seven straight. They were blown out by Ohio State 59-0 in the Big Ten championship game.
UNLV taps Las Vegas high school coach
LAS VEGAS — Bishop Gorman High School coach Tony Sanchez is set to take over UNLV’s football program.
UNLV said Wednesday that President Donald Snyder and athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy will introduce Sanchez as the coach Thursday. The University of Nevada board of regents is expected to approve the hiring next week.
The 40-year-old Sanchez was 85-5 at Las Vegas’ Bishop Gorman, the top-ranked high school team in the country. The Gaels finished 15-0 this season and won their sixth consecutive Nevada state championship Saturday.
Snyder replaces Bobby Hauck, who announced his resignation in November after compiling a 15-49 record in five seasons at UNLV.
The Rebels were 2-11 this year and 1-7 in the Mountain West Conference.
Arizona’s Wright wins Lombardi
HOUSTON — Arizona sophomore linebacker Scooby Wright won the Lombardi Award on Wednesday night as the nation’s best lineman.
Wright edged Clemson senior defensive end Vic Beasley, Washington senior linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha and Ohio State sophomore defensive end Joey Bosa for the award presented by the Rotary Club of Houston.
Wright won the Bronko Nagurski Award on Monday night as the top college defensive player, and was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-1, 246-pound linebacker has 89 solo tackles — 27 tackles for losses — and 14 sacks to help the 12th-ranked Wildcats (10-3) earn a spot in the Fiesta Bowl against Boise State.
By wire sources
