Wisconsin Badgers College FB team

[buzzsaw]

MADISON, Wis. -- Barry Alvarez will step down as Wisconsin's football coach after the 2005 season to become the school's full-time athletic director.

Alvarez assumed both roles in April 2004, but said he some day planned to step away from coaching to lead the athletic department full time.

"I believe it's the right time," Alvarez said Thursday at a news conference.

Badgers defensive coordinator Bret Bielema will take over in 2006, Alvarez said. Bielema joined the Badgers last season after working as a co-defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Kansas State.

"He's a rising star in our profession," Alvarez said. "Bret Bielema is the right man to replace me."

Alvarez was hired to turn around a program that had only five winning seasons in the previous 27 years. The Badgers failed to break the .500 mark in his first three years before Alvarez led Wisconsin to the Rose Bowl in 1994, the team's first since 1963.

He has a 108-70-4 record during 15 seasons at Wisconsin, the best mark in school history. His 7-3 record in bowl games includes three Rose Bowl wins.

Wisconsin was also penalized by the NCAA for a major rules violation under Alvarez's watch in 2000. Twenty-six football players were suspended for receiving unadvertised discounts at a shoe store and another 21 were required to do community service for breaking NCAA rules.

[juggs]

Wow. Didn't know anything was in the works. Bielema is yet another product of the Hayden Fry regime. GO HAWKS!!

[fishyguy]

That is going to crush the girlfriend. She is a graduate of Bucky U and loves Barry.

[IFallsRon]

I worked at the Mason City, Iowa, newspaper when Barry was high school coach and took the team to a state title. He's a great guy. Best to him.