Wisconsin Badgers defensive coordinator Dave Aranda will benefit from a job well done.
The Badgers finished fourth overall in total defense under Aranda’s supervision. However, the coordinator was left in limbo once Gary Andersen decided to leave Wisconsin to become the head coach of the Oregon State Beavers. Instead of bringing Aranda with him, Andersen decided to go in another direction by hiring Kalani Sitake away from the Utah Utes.
Aranda’s job didn’t go unnoticed, though. Incoming head coach Paul Chryst decided to retain Aranda as the Badgers’ defensive coordinator.
“Dave is the first person I spoke to when I got the job. I’m very impressed with his knowledge of defense and his ability to put together a game plan,” Chryst said in a statement released by the school. “He 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. 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.”
Chryst also brings his right-hand man, Joe Rudolph, with him as his offensive coordinator.
Rudolph previously served as Chryst’s offensive coordinator during their three seasons together with the Pitt Panthers. He built a relationship with Chryst when the two both served on Wisconsin’s offensive staff from 2008-11.
“I’ve worked with Joe for a number of years and have witnessed first-hand how good of a coach he is,” Chryst said. “He is very detailed oriented and has a terrific offensive mind. He preaches a tough, physical, smart brand of football that I believe is the foundation of the Wisconsin program. Being a graduate and having played and coached at UW, he truly knows what it means to be a Badger.”
Along with the coordinator hires, Chryst already zeroed in on a new secondary coach.
Wisconsin will hire Hawaii secondary coach Daronte Jones for the same post, according to a source.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) January 13, 2015
Jones served as Hawaii’s secondary coach from 2012-14. He also spent a season in the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes coaching their defensive backs.
