By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Madison, WI

Utah State Aggies football coach Gary Andersen will take over the coaching job at Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin State Journal, citing sources, said Andersen was athletic director Barry Alvarez's top choice to succeed Bret Bielema, who left to take the Arkansas job. Andersen had shrugged off interest from several other schools.

However, a state job in Wisconsin can only be filled two weeks after posting, which means the appointment of Andersen can't be officially announced by the school until Thursday.

Andersen is coming off a phenomenal fourth season at Utah State where his Aggies won 11 games for the first time in school history and finished in the top ten in yards per play offense and defense. They only lost to Wisconsin, 16-14, and BYU, 6-3.

He also coached Utah State to its first bowl victory in 19 seasons on Saturday, a 41-15 triumph over Toledo in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

In four years at Utah State, he was 27-24, including this season's 11-2 mark.

Prior to Utah State, Andersen was an assistant at Utah from 2004-08 (defensive coordinator from 2005-08), head coach at Southern Utah in 2003 and an assistant at Utah from 1997-2002.

 

 

Gary Andersen Leaves Utah State to Lead Wisconsin Football Program