Wisconsin HC Paul Chryst Fired After 2-3 Start; Jim Leonhard Named Interim HC

The loss to Illinois was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Jim Leonhard was made the interim head coach after the firing of Paul Chryst.

Adam was the first to report the story.

Pete shared the details of the contract.

Pete Thamel @PeteThamel

Per Paul Chryst’s contract, the school owes him more than $16.4 million if he’s fired without cause. Terms of separation could apply. But that’s the contract.

Things didn't go well for Wisconsin in its second game of the year when it lost at home to Washington State 17-14. The team was undone by turnovers and penalties.

The win over New Mexico State was followed by a loss at Ohio State.

Like most of the teams in the country, Wisconsin cannot match up from a talent standpoint, as it has lost nine straight in the series against Ohio State. The performance that wasn't up to the program's standards was the reason for the 24 point loss at home to Illinois.

He had been successful in his job.

He went 67-26 in his first year as the head coach. Not counting the shortened 2020 schedule, the Badgers won double-digit games in four of his six seasons.

Wisconsin would have made the College Football Playoff had it defeated Ohio State in the conference title game. It was defeated by Penn State in the Big Ten title game in 2016 and lost to Ohio State in the Big Ten title game in 2019.

It's the story of Wisconsin football.

It is usually a contender in the Big Ten West but is at least a step behind the true College Football Playoff contender. In the conference title games, it was shown.

The Badgers are in the thick of the Big Ten West race even though they have lost their first two conference games. After getting its cross-divisional game against Ohio State over, Wisconsin doesn't play Michigan or Penn State in the foreseeable future.

That could open the door for Leonhard, who played at the University of Wisconsin, to lead a late season resurgence. If he wants to become the long-term head coach of his alma mater, that would help him.