Wisconsin fires Chryst, name Jim Leonhard interim coach

Former Wisconsin Badgers football head coach Paul Chryst. Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Wisconsin fires Paul Chryst, name DC Jim Leonhard interim HC

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 10/2/22

After a 2-3 start to the 2022 season, the Wisconsin Badgers have reportedly moved on from head coach Paul Chryst.

According to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg, Wisconsin fired the longtime coach Sunday, naming defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard interim head coach.

SOURCE: Paul Chryst is out as #Wisconsin coach. Jim Leonhard will be the team's interim coach. Announcement will be coming shortly.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 2, 2022

Wisconsin opened the season going 2-1 against non-conference opponents, earning blowout victories over Illinois State and New Mexico State while suffering a devastating three-point loss to Washington State.

Things began to fall apart for the Badgers once they opened up their Big Ten schedule. Last week, the Badgers suffered an embarrassing 52-21 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes, and they didn't fare much better this week, falling to another Big Ten squad in Illinois, 34-10.

Quite the fall from grace for the Big Ten's preseason poll favorite.

Chryst ends his tenure as head coach at Wisconsin with a record of 67-26 over seven-plus seasons at the helm. The 56-year-old led the Badgers to seven bowl games, posting wins in the Holiday Bowl (2015), Cotton Bowl (2016), Orange Bowl (2017), Pinstripe Bowl (2018), Duke Mayo Bowl (2020), and Las Vegas Bowl (2021).

Hired in 2015, Chryst leaves Wisconsin as the third-winningest coach in school history, behind only Bret Bielema (68) and Barry Alvarez (118).

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