Reports: Paul Chryst “poised” to accept open Wisconsin head coaching job

According to reports, Pitt’s head football coach Paul Chryst is “poised” to take over at Wisconsin, but Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said Friday that no official offer has been made.

A story posted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel early Friday morning said that according to an anonymous source, Chryst is poised to fill the void left when former head coach Gary Andersen accepted a head coaching job at Oregon State on Wednesday.

But Alvarez said that the university cannot make a job offer until Wednesday, one week after Andersen left the program. A job listing on the NCAA’s website says the Wisconsin athletic department will accept applications until Dec. 17.

Chryst played for the Wisconsin Badgers from 1986-88, and was the team’s offensive coordinator from 2005-11 before accepting the job as Pitt’s head football coach in 2011. In three seasons, he led the Panthers to an 18-18 regular season record.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a Pitt official declined to comment on the speculation.

Alvarez declined to elaborate in a press conference who is on an existent, short list of candidates for the position.

Several Pitt football players and recruits took to Twitter after seeing the increased number of reports.

https://twitter.com/Uncle_IB/status/543297517111508992

This story is in progress and will be updated as necessary.