Longhorns To Hire Former Wisconsin Coach Paul Chryst

Former Wisconsin quarterback and head coach Paul Chryst is headed to Austin

Gary Patterson joined Texas’ staff last season as a special assistant to the head coach following a two-decade run at TCU. Another former head coach is set to call Austin home in 2023.

The Longhorns are hiring former Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst, according to Rivals. Chryst will serve as an offensive analyst and work alongside third-year coach Steve Sarkisian. 

Texas also hired veteran coaches Joe DeCamillis & Payam Saadat. Each will hold the title of special assistant to the head coach. 

Chryst, 57, spent seven-plus seasons in Madison as the Badgers' head coach before being fired last October following a 2-3 start. A native of Wisconsin, Chryst played quarterback for the Badgers from 1986-88. 

Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian has hired former Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst as an offensive analyst, according to my sources. Sarkisian also hired veteran coaches Joe DeCamillis & Payam Saadat. Each will hold the title of Special Assistant To The Head Coach. pic.twitter.com/Qoi12Gzqrd

— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) May 28, 2023

Chryst posted a 67-26 record during his time at the helm. He won 10 or more games in four of his first five seasons with the Badgers, picking up wins in Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl. Wisconsin also won three Big Ten West division titles under his watch. 

The program’s persona began to head south following a sluggish 2020 season. Wisconsin finished 4-3 and followed up the next season with a woeful 1-3 record. The Badgers finished 9-4 on the year, but did suffer losses to No. 19 Penn State, No. 12 Notre Dame, ad No. 14 Michigan. 

Athletic director Chris McIntosh elected to end the Chryst era following a 34-10 loss to Illinois in Week 5. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard took over for the remainder of the year as interim coach, but ultimately wasn’t given the chance to lead full-time.

"It's a big decision and it's got implications that are not lost on me, but really, really thankful to have been able to work side by side with Coach Chryst through some incredibly exhilarating, positive moments, and some tough ones like today," McIntosh said. 

"It's my role to have the position of our program always on my mind. We just reached a point where today I felt was the right time to make that decision. It's not one I take lightly; it's an incredibly tough day for us all. But I'm incredibly optimistic that today is the first day of the future of this program."

McIntosh hired Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell this offseason after a seven-year run with the Bearcats. Cincinnati is slated to join the Big 12 this year alongside Texas under new coach Scott Satterfield. 

Chryst spent three different stints on Wisconsin’s staff. Hired in 2002 as the tight ends coach, Chryst left a year later to become the offensive coordinator at Oregon State.

He returned to Madison two years later with the same title, but also coached tight ends (2005) and later quarterbacks (2006-11). 

Prior to his third stint with the Badgers, Chryst was named head coach at Pitt in 2012. He posted a 19-19 record in three seasons, leading the Panthers to three consecutive bowl games. 

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