Report: Former Badgers HC Paul Chryst Turned Down Northwestern Job

Paul Chryst, former head coach of Wisconsin Football, recently surfaced as a potential candidate for the Northwestern head coaching position.

However, Chryst, currently serving as an offensive analyst for the Texas Longhorns, was among eight candidates who declined the Northwestern job before the Wildcats settled on David Braun as their choice — and removed the interim tag, according to a report from Jim O’Donnell of the Daily Herald. 

At 57, Chryst boasts an impressive coaching career, having led Wisconsin Football to a 43-18 record in Big Ten play and an overall mark of 67-26. 

Despite his departure from Wisconsin after a home loss to Illinois last season, Chryst remains a respected figure in college football and will have plenty of options available to him should he want to commit fully. While impossible to measure, his analyst role in Texas has undoubtedly contributed to the Longhorns’ impressive 10-1 record, placing them at No. 7 in national rankings.

Former Wisconsin Football Head Coach Paul Chryst Passes on Northwestern Job.

The Daily Herald revealed that among the candidates initially considered for the Northwestern job, Paul Chryst and other prominent names, including Mike Elko of Duke, Lance Leipold from Kansas, Dave Clawson of Wake Forest, and Mike Kafka, former Wildcats QB turned New York Giants offensive coordinator, declined the opportunity. 

Even Tommy Rees, the Notre Dame quarterback turned offensive coordinator for Alabama, declined to join Northwestern.

There will assuredly be several new vacancies across the Power 5 after this weekend — and as these athletic departments explore all options, Chryst’s name will start popping up again due to his successful tenure as the head coach of the Wisconsin football program. 

Paul Chryst is known for stabilizing programs, offering valuable experience, and instilling a winning culture and identity in any team he coaches. I look forward to seeing where he ends up. 

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. For more Wisconsin Badgers Athletics and Big Ten content, follow us on Twitter & Facebook. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. 

Also, be sure to check out our shop, subscribe to our newsletter, and the BadgerNotes After Dark podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. Because of your support, we have become one of the fastest-growing independent media outlets focused on giving a voice to the fans!