If Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Aranda leaves Madison to take a job with an NFL franchise, Badgers head coach Paul Chryst might be as surprised as everyone else.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel‘s Bob McGinn reported Wednesday that Aranda interviewed for a position on the Green Bay Packers staff. The assumption is Aranda was up for the same position that was eventually given to former Oklahoma assistant Jerry Montgomery.
Since Aranda didn’t get become the Packers’ new defensive front coach, Chryst doesn’t see Aranda leaving the program any time soon.
Chryst even told the Journal-Sentinel’s Jeff Potrykus Friday that “Aranda wasn’t actively looking to leave UW”, and he fully expects him to be on the sidelines this fall.
The fact Aranda is expected to remain in Madison is very important for the Badgers. Last season, Wisconsin ranked fourth overall in total defense. And Chryst made sure Aranda was his first call upon becoming the Badgers’ new head coach.
“[Aranda] has helped build Wisconsin’s defense into one of the best in the country over the last two years and the numbers back that up,” the head coach said in a statement when Aranda’s hire became official. “He is able to identify the strengths of his players and play to those strengths, which I think is the mark of a good coach. When Dave expressed a great interest in staying, I was excited because I believe it is a great fit.”
