Paul Chryst had a $350,000 bonus in his contract as University of Wisconsin football coach if the Badgers qualified for the College Football Playoff.
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Photos: Paul Chryst through his Wisconsin football coaching tenure
After entering the season unranked after a disastrous 2008, the Badgers had surprising success in 2009 losing only three games to No. 9 Ohio State, No. 11 Iowa and Northwestern and shutting out Purdue 37-0 at home. The team finished the season fourth in the Big Ten and ranked No. 16 after a 20-14 win vs. Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl.
UW coach Paul Chryst speaks with Illinois coach Bret Bielema following the 2021 game in Champaign.
Paul Chryst was born into a football family in Madison in 1965. He is one of three sons of George Chryst, who played football and coached at UW-Madison in addition to tenures as coach and athletic director at Madison Edgewood High School and UW-Platteville (pictured above).
Paul Chryst began his coaching career at the age of 24 as a graduate assistant while he attended West Virginia from 1989-90. Following that, he coached in various capacities for the San Antonio Riders (1991-92), UW-Platteville (1993, pictured), the Ottawa Rough Riders (1994), Illinois State (1995), the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1996), and Oregon State (1997-98) before becoming the tight ends coach for the San Diego Chargers from 1999-2001.
He first returned to UW-Madison in 2002 for a year as tight ends coach, then left again for the offensive coordinator job at Oregon State from 2003-04.
Paul Chryst was Wisconsin's co-offensive coordinator (he shared the role with Brian White) and tight ends coach in 2005, the last year Barry Alvarez served as head coach. The team won 10 and lost 3 and ended with a 24-10 win vs. No. 7 Auburn at the Capital One Bowl. They finished ranked 15th in the AP poll.
After entering the season unranked after a disastrous 2008, the Badgers had surprising success in 2009 losing only three games to No. 9 Ohio State, No. 11 Iowa and Northwestern and shutting out Purdue 37-0 at home. The team finished the season fourth in the Big Ten and ranked No. 16 after a 20-14 win vs. Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl.
The Badgers followed 2009's success with a great season in 2010, losing only one regular season game (34-24 at Michigan State) to end as Big Ten co-champions with the Spartans. They earned a coveted Rose Bowl berth and held their own against No. 3 TCU but lost 21-19 after a failed two-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter. They ended the season ranked No. 7 by AP.
2011 was another strong season for the Badgers. Led by QB Russell Wilson, Wisconsin lost only two regular-season games (at Michigan State and at Ohio State), won the first-ever Big Ten Championship game 42-39 against Michigan State, and earned their second Rose Bowl berth in a row. They lost the Rose Bowl 45-38 — a record high score for the Rose Bowl — vs. No. 6 Oregon. The ended the season ranked No. 10 by AP.
Paul Chryst was a finalist for the Broyles Award, which honors the nation's top assistant coach. Following the Big Ten Championship game, Chryst took a job as the head football coach for the University of Pittsburgh on Dec. 22, a job he would hold for the next three years.
Paul Chryst had a rocky start in his first year at Pitt, the program's last season in the Big East. After losing their first game 31-17 against Youngstown State, the Panthers went on to a losing season, winning just six games and losing the BBVA Compass Bowl 38-17 against Ole Miss.
In their first season in the ACC, Pitt again lost their home opener in 2013, getting wiped out 41-13 against No. 11 Florida State. They lost five more games during the regulars season, but won the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl 30-27 against Bowling Green.
Back with the Badgers, Chryst hit the ground running, overcoming a loss in their first game vs. No. 3 Alabama in neutral territory to finish third in the Big Ten West Division with a 9-3 record in the regular season. The Badgers went on to beat USC 23-21 in the Holiday Bowl and ended ranked No. 21 by AP. The Badgers finished with the top scoring defense in the country and came in second in total defense in 2015.
The 2016 season began with a bang when the unranked Wisconsin Badgers upset No. 5 LSU 16-14 in the season opener at Lambeau Field. They lost only two games in the regular season (at No. 4 Michigan and vs. No. 2 Ohio State), but lost the Big Ten Championship game 38-31 to No. 6 Penn State. The team ended the year with a 24-16 win vs. Western Michigan in the Cotton Bowl Classic and were ranked No. 9 by the AP.
In Chryst's third season as head coach, Wisconsin ran the table against an uncharacteristically soft schedule (playing only two ranked opponents) to end the regular season with a 12-0 record. It was the team's first undefeated season since 1912.
Fired Wisconsin football coach Paul Chryst, right, served on staff with Barry Alvarez.
Former Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan, left, discusses a play with coach Paul Chryst, who was fired Sunday.
An angry Paul Chryst after Illinois scored against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall. Bret Bielema's Illinois team beat the Badgers 34-10.
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst was the offensive coordinator at Illinois State in 1995. He was fired after the season despite the Redbirds winning their final three games, including two over ranked opponents.Â
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst watches during the second half of the season opener against Illinois State Sept. 3 at Camp Randall Stadium.
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst watches during the Sept. 10 game against Washington State at Camp Randall.
Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst, left, and Ohio State head coach Ryan Day pose with the Big Ten championship trophy prior to the 2019 title game. Day and the Buckeyes beat the Badgers 52-21 on Sept. 24, 2022.
Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz (5) talks with coach Paul Chryst against Illinois State Sept. 3.
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst watches from the sideline during the season opener Sept. 3 against Illinois State.
Paul Chryst led Wisconsin to a 67-26 record in his seven seasons and five games into 2022.Â
Paul Chryst led Wisconsin to a 67-26 record in his seven seasons and five games into 2022.Â
UW coach Paul Chryst speaks with Illinois coach Bret Bielema following the 2021 game in Champaign.
Paul Chryst was born into a football family in Madison in 1965. He is one of three sons of George Chryst, who played football and coached at UW-Madison in addition to tenures as coach and athletic director at Madison Edgewood High School and UW-Platteville (pictured above).
Paul Chryst began his coaching career at the age of 24 as a graduate assistant while he attended West Virginia from 1989-90. Following that, he coached in various capacities for the San Antonio Riders (1991-92), UW-Platteville (1993, pictured), the Ottawa Rough Riders (1994), Illinois State (1995), the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1996), and Oregon State (1997-98) before becoming the tight ends coach for the San Diego Chargers from 1999-2001.
He first returned to UW-Madison in 2002 for a year as tight ends coach, then left again for the offensive coordinator job at Oregon State from 2003-04.
Paul Chryst was Wisconsin's co-offensive coordinator (he shared the role with Brian White) and tight ends coach in 2005, the last year Barry Alvarez served as head coach. The team won 10 and lost 3 and ended with a 24-10 win vs. No. 7 Auburn at the Capital One Bowl. They finished ranked 15th in the AP poll.
The Badgers followed 2009's success with a great season in 2010, losing only one regular season game (34-24 at Michigan State) to end as Big Ten co-champions with the Spartans. They earned a coveted Rose Bowl berth and held their own against No. 3 TCU but lost 21-19 after a failed two-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter. They ended the season ranked No. 7 by AP.
2011 was another strong season for the Badgers. Led by QB Russell Wilson, Wisconsin lost only two regular-season games (at Michigan State and at Ohio State), won the first-ever Big Ten Championship game 42-39 against Michigan State, and earned their second Rose Bowl berth in a row. They lost the Rose Bowl 45-38 — a record high score for the Rose Bowl — vs. No. 6 Oregon. The ended the season ranked No. 10 by AP.
Paul Chryst was a finalist for the Broyles Award, which honors the nation's top assistant coach. Following the Big Ten Championship game, Chryst took a job as the head football coach for the University of Pittsburgh on Dec. 22, a job he would hold for the next three years.
Paul Chryst had a rocky start in his first year at Pitt, the program's last season in the Big East. After losing their first game 31-17 against Youngstown State, the Panthers went on to a losing season, winning just six games and losing the BBVA Compass Bowl 38-17 against Ole Miss.
Back with the Badgers, Chryst hit the ground running, overcoming a loss in their first game vs. No. 3 Alabama in neutral territory to finish third in the Big Ten West Division with a 9-3 record in the regular season. The Badgers went on to beat USC 23-21 in the Holiday Bowl and ended ranked No. 21 by AP. The Badgers finished with the top scoring defense in the country and came in second in total defense in 2015.
The 2016 season began with a bang when the unranked Wisconsin Badgers upset No. 5 LSU 16-14 in the season opener at Lambeau Field. They lost only two games in the regular season (at No. 4 Michigan and vs. No. 2 Ohio State), but lost the Big Ten Championship game 38-31 to No. 6 Penn State. The team ended the year with a 24-16 win vs. Western Michigan in the Cotton Bowl Classic and were ranked No. 9 by the AP.
In Chryst's third season as head coach, Wisconsin ran the table against an uncharacteristically soft schedule (playing only two ranked opponents) to end the regular season with a 12-0 record. It was the team's first undefeated season since 1912.
Fired Wisconsin football coach Paul Chryst, right, served on staff with Barry Alvarez.
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst watches during Saturday's game at Camp Randall.
Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst, left, and Ohio State head coach Ryan Day pose with the Big Ten championship trophy prior to the 2019 title game. Day and the Buckeyes beat the Badgers 52-21 on Sept. 24, 2022.
Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz (5) talks with coach Paul Chryst against Illinois State Sept. 3.
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst watches from the sideline during the season opener Sept. 3 against Illinois State.
