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Wisconsin athletics director — and former Badgers head coach — Barry Alvarez will coach the team in its New Year’s Day bowl game against No. 19 Auburn, according to media reports.
Barry Alvarez will coach the Badgers in their upcoming Outback Bowl vs Auburn.
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) December 11, 2014
The decision comes a day after Gary Andersen announced he was leaving Wisconsin to take the head coaching job at Oregon State.
Related: Auburn may face Barry Alvarez in Outback Bowl after Gary Andersen takes OSU job
Alvarez said during a news conference Wednesday evening to address Andersen’s departure that Wisconsin’s seniors approached him and asked him to coach.
“I told them I’ll make up my mind tonight,” Alvarez said Wednesday. “I’ll definitely consider that.”
Alvarez has come out of retirement once already when he returned to the sideline to coach the Badgers in the 2013 Rose Bowl after then-head coach Bret Bielema left for Arkansas.
Andersen reportedly informed Alvarez of his decision to leave on Wednesday afternoon. The long-time Badgers CEO told Andersen he expected the assistants to stay and coach the team through the bowl game.
Alvarez is a sitting member of the College Football Playoff committee, though it’s unclear how — if at all — this affects his standing.
Odd dynamic for Playoff Committee with Alvarez actually coaching a game now while still on Committee vs. a program (AUB) he’ll eval next yr.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 11, 2014
After living in Birmingham, Ala., Jordan left the ground zero of SEC Nation to head south to Florida to tell the unique stories of the renowned tradition of SEC football. In his free time, his mission is to find the best locales around.
