Wisconsin Football Hires OL Coach AJ Blazek: Here’s What You Need to Know

The Wisconsin football program found its replacement for former offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr — who was reportedly re-assigned last week — on Friday, as the Badgers are set to hire former Vanderbilt OL coach AJ Blazek.

The veteran will bring 20 years’ worth of coaching experience to Madison and will be Wisconsin’s fourth offensive line coach in as many seasons. 

Here’s what you need to know about the newest Badgers coach. 

Wisconsin Football Finds Reels in Vanderbilt OL Coach AJ Blazek

Blazek started his playing career at Butler Community College — where he earned All-American honors — before moving on to the Iowa Hawkeyes, where he was named an All-Big Ten center in 2000. 

After his playing career was over, Blazek made the move to coaching. He started his career at Iowa, spending three seasons as a graduate assistant from 2002-2004. After his stint with his alma mater, he would move to Fort Hays State in Division II, signing on as the offensive line coach in 2005 before moving to an offensive coordinator role from 2006-2008. Blazek then spent four seasons at Winona State in Minnesota, starting as the offensive line coach in 2009 before taking on co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach roles. Blazek also served as an offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Western Illinois (2013-2015), OL coach and assistant head coach at Rutgers (2016-2018), and offensive line coach for North Dakota State (2019-2020) and Vanderbilt.

Looking at his resume, it’s encouraging to see that Blazek is not just a one-and-done coach and has spent multiple years at each stop. Wisconsin’s offensive line coach role has been a revolving door for the past few seasons, and finding someone who has stayed with programs and built them — even if it’s just for three seasons — will be beneficial for UW.

During his recent stint with the Commodores, Blazek oversaw an offensive line that was the third-least penalized in the SEC during his first season in 2021. In 2022, Vanderbilt allowed just 1.25 sacks per game, which ranked fourth in the conference and 26th in the country. This past season was a tough one for Blazek and company, as the offensive line was shuffled constantly due to injuries. 

Based on Blazek’s resume, this is a solid addition to the Wisconsin football coaching staff.

What the Hire Means for Wisconsin Football

Wisconsin has been known for churning out pros at multiple positions, but producing offensive line talent has always been the program’s strong suit. However, UW’s strength in the trenches has dwindled over the past few seasons. 

The Badgers have not produced a first-round offensive lineman since 2017, but part of that could be attributed to the revolving door at offensive line coach. Regardless, this is an unfamiliar position for Wisconsin to be in, and they need this hire to pan out to finally bring some continuity in the trenches.

The Badgers will have last season’s starters Jack Nelson, Riley Mahlman, and Joe Huber returning, along with projected starters Jake Renfro and Joe Brunner. However, UW’s offensive line depth is a bit thin, with Trey Wedig, Nolan Rucci, and Dylan Barrett no longer with the program. Blazek has some strong recruiting ties in the Midwest, which could be beneficial in rebuilding the foundation of the offensive line room. 

Blazek has the tall task of bringing back the Wisconsin football program’s offensive line room to its former glory. After a bit of stumble over the last few seasons, it’s going to be easier said than done. However, Blazek has the recruiting ties and the experience to elevate this room; we’ll just have to see how it translates. 

Seeing if the Wisconsin Badgers offensive line can return to form under new direction will be one of the most interesting things to watch in 2024.

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