Earlier this month, Bronco Mendenhall was mentioned in connection to an Oregon State job that ultimately went to Gary Andersen. That left Wisconsin with a head coaching vacancy, an opening that the BYU head coach apparently had his eyes on as well.
According to an open records request filed by the Associated Press, Mendenhall was one of 45 individuals who applied for the job as the Badgers head coach. That job ultimately went to Paul Chryst, who left Pittsburgh after three seasons to come home to UW.
Interestingly, Chryst, who applied for the job Dec. 12, asked in a letter dated Dec. 15 “that his application be held ‘in confidence’ unless he was considered a finalist for the job,” the AP wrote. State law allows candidates to remain confidential if they ask for it in writing, which, for whatever reason, Mendenhall didn’t do.
On Dec. 12, around the time Mendenhall would’ve applied for the UW job, the Cougars coach brushed off speculation that he could be headed elsewhere, even going so far as condemning schools that contact head coaches whose seasons haven’t yet been completed.
“I think when you have a successful program like we have there is interest every year,” Mendenhall said. “I’ll probably just leave it at that. I’m flattered that that continues to happen and I’m looking forward to coaching our team. ...
“I think there is a time and place for moves, and I don’t think it’s before the team has finished their season and bowl game. I don’t think a head coach should be able to be contacted till his team is finished playing.”
BYU, incidentally, concluded its season Monday night, roughly a week and a half after Mendenhall applied for the UW job.
UPDATED 4:04 p.m. ET: There appears to be some question as to whether Mendenhall actually applied for the job. We’ll continue to monitor the situation.
Re: Bronco Mendenhall applying for Wisc job -- no cover letter, no resume, etc. Pages photocopied from media guide. http://t.co/L3NYigwOlP
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) December 23, 2014
