A lot of speculation and wonder over the who's and why's of new Badgers football head coach Gary Andersen's 1st staff can now come to an end as the Badgers officially announced Andersen's staff late on Thursday evening. Most of the names were exactly who we expected to join the staff and the only surprise was to see that Bart Miller was not amongst the group announced today.
“I am excited by the staff we have been able to assemble,” Andersen said in a statement released by the UW athletic department. “They are quality coaches who bring the experience and philosophies that will enable us to continue playing great offense and defense at Wisconsin. They are also individuals who take care of kids first and will coach them in the right way."
Joining Andersen at Wisconsin will be holdovers Thomas Hammock (Running Backs) and Ben Strickland (Secondary). Andersen brought with him a few of his coaching brethren from Utah State as well, with defensive coordinator Dave Aranda and secondary coach Bill Bush tagging along on the defensive side and T.J. Wood joining the Badgers staff from Utah State as the offensive line coach.
New to the Badgers and not members of Andersen's staff at Utah State will be familiar faces to Andersen at least in offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig and defensive line coach Chad Kauha’aha’a. Ludwig has an extensive relationship with Andersen with both serving as members of the Utah coaching staff where they were coordinators of a 13-0 team that took down Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl. Kauha'aha'a has spent the last two seasons coaching the d-line at Utah and is considered a rising star in the ranks of defensive coaching. He has brought up potential Top 10 NFL draft pick Star Lotulelei and an early entrant this season as well in Joe Krueger.
For a complete look at what to expect from Andersen's offense, all you need to know can be found in the statistical breakdown we put together upon reports of his unofficial hiring.
As for what Wisconsin's defense may end up looking like, especially because Aranda and Andersen were running a 3-4, rest assured that won't be happening at Wisconsin.
"Our style on offense will be very familiar to Wisconsin fans while on defense I am confident that we can continue the great tradition of tough and physical units that has been established here," said Andersen in a statement released by the school.
Wisconsin still has yet to fill the tight end, wide receivers, and linebackers coaching positions officially and it is widely thought that Bart Miller could be in line for a job as the tight ends coach.
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