Former Wisconsin Badgers head coach Paul Chryst. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

HC Paul Chryst Fired By Wisconsin After 2-3 Start

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated 10/2/22

The Wisconsin Badgers got off to a slow start in 2022. The Badgers are currently 2-3. The team was blown out in embarrassing fashion by Illinois on Saturday. The week prior, the Badgers suffered a 52-21 loss to Ohio State on prime-time national television. Those recent developments gave rumors of possible replacements for head coach Paul Chryst.

According to Adam Rittenberg with ESPN , Chryst is out as the Badgers’ head coach. Jim Leonhard will be the interim coach while the school looks for a permanent replacement.

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

Chryst had a 67-26 record at Wisconsin. He is record was 43-18 in conference play. Chryst led the Badgers to three divisional championships and twice won Big Ten Coach of the Year. The team struggled to achieve the same success after the Badgers’ appearance in the Rose Bowl for the 2019 season.

The team went 4-3 in the 2020 season and 9-4 last season. The start of this season has been a disaster for the program. Chryst had been criticized for not developing a quarterback that could compete for a Big 10 championship.

Leonhard has been the Badgers‘ defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach since 2017. He will prepare the team to play Northwestern next week.

Chryst’s buyout is speculated to be around $16M.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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