Alvarez Will Coach Wisconsin in Outback Bowl
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iStockPhoto/Thinkstock(TAMPA, Fla.) — Current Wisconsin director of athletics and former head coach Barry Alvarez will coach the football team when it takes on Auburn in the Outback Bowl Jan. 1, the school announced Thursday.
Wisconsin was left without a coach for the Bowl game when head coach Gary Andersen decided Wednesday to leave the school and become Oregon State’s head coach.
Alvarez coached the Badgers from 1990-2005 during which he became the winningest coach in school history (118-74-4).
“A number of the seniors met with me on Wednesday after our team meeting and asked if I would consider coaching the team,” Alvarez said. “I told them I would have to sleep on it. After thinking it over and meeting with some of the seniors again this morning I have decided to coach. I feel this gives our assistants an opportunity to concentrate on getting the team ready for a very good opponent in Auburn. My goal is to make sure our players, especially the seniors playing their last game, have a memorable experience and we do everything we can to prepare to win the game.”
This isn’t the first time Alvarez coached a Bowl game while serving as A.D. In 2013, he coached the Badgers in the Rose Bowl after former head coach Bret Bielema left to coach Arkansas. Alvarez and the Badgers lost that game to Stanford, 20-14.
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