Columnist Jim Polzin reacts to the decision to fire Wisconsin football coach Paul Chryst.
Jim Polzin | Wisconsin State Journal
Paul Chryst served as University of Wisconsin football coach for seven years and five games, moving the program forward by winning 34 of his first 41 games.
There was since a dip that was bookended with listless performances in a 52-21 loss at Ohio State followed by a 34-10 drubbing by Illinois , led by Chryst's former boss Bret Bielema . That was enough for athletic director Chris McIntosh to fire Chryst  on Sunday.
Chryst's tenure finished with a 67-26 record and 43-18 in the Big Ten. It included three West Division titles and Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl appearances. Former walk-on Jim Leonhard, who Chryst hired, was named interim coach for the remainder of the season.
Here are six things we learned Sunday about Chryst's firing.
1. Reversal of action?Â
University of Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh delivers his opening statement, discussing the dismissal of football coach Paul Chryst Sunday in Camp Randal Stadium.
About 96 hours before termination, McIntosh left little belief that Chryst's seat was warm . In an exclusive state-of-the-program interview with BadgerExtra columnist Jim Polzin, McIntosh discussed past ruts over the last 25 years of Badgers football and how the program climbed out of them.
McIntosh told Polzin on Sunday evening  in a telephone conversation that it wasn't a "game-by-game decision" and that it was "too big of a decision for it to be that."
2. 'Championship program'
New Wisconsin interim football coach Jim Leonhard delivers opening remarks of Sunday night's press conference inside Camp Randall Stadium after the dismissal of Paul Chryst.
So what changed? McIntosh gave little reasoning into why Chryst was fired.Â
“The expectations of our program at Wisconsin are to win championships, and I felt it was the right time to make a change to pursue those,” McIntosh said at Sunday's news conference.
But he offered no details on why Chryst wasn't the man to lead Wisconsin going forward, instead commenting "holistically" on the program.
3. Day of meetings
Wisconsin interim coach Jim Leonhard discusses what lies ahead with the programs and the emotions of players, along with his own feelings of his new role.
McIntosh said that he and Chryst had a "long" meeting that morning. The end result was Chryst's firing, but the meetings didn't stop there.
McIntosh, Leonhard and Chryst, a Madison native who quarterbacked the Badgers in the 1980s, held a closed-door meeting with "everybody in the program" to address the coaching change.Â
4. Hefty price
University of Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh answers questions from reporters Sunday inside Camp Randall Stadium regarding the reason to name Jim Leonhard interim coach and dismiss Paul Chryst, Chryst's buyout dollar amount, and how the players were informed of the news.
UW and Chryst reworked his contract in 2019 for a buyout that would amount to nearly 85% of the remaining balance on his contract. That total would exceed eight figures .
But McIntosh said that a negotiated deal with Chryst had been reached for a smaller sum. McIntosh did not disclose that amount.
5. Fit to lead
Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh discusses the 'fit' of interim coach Jim Leonhard, along with his 'competitiveness,' 'ability to lead' and teach Sunday inside Camp Randall Stadium. He also answers questions about how long has the evaluation of the program has been on his mind and on a potential coaching search. Leonhard also comments on any potential changes with staff.
It's been more than two decades since Leonhard enrolled at UW as a walk-on . The Flambeau High grad took a chance and developed into a three-time All-American before a 10-year NFL career as an undrafted free agent.
He now takes the big whistle from his former boss. He served as an assistant under Chryst in 2016 and eventually became defensive coordinator.
Leonhard embodies the program with his playing and coaching journey and called the opportunity "a dream for myself." McIntosh said that he is confident in Leonhard's ability to lead in what amounts to a seven-game tryout to remove the interim tag.
6. Popular with players It's clear that Chryst was a favorite among current and former players . Of course he was a big part of their recruitments and why they came to UW.
Players and incoming recruits have discussed the "family atmosphere" after visiting Madison.
Photos: Paul Chryst through his Wisconsin football coaching tenure
UW coach Paul Chryst speaks with Illinois coach Bret Bielema following the 2021 game in Champaign.
CHARLES REX ARBOGAST, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Paul Chryst was born into a football family in Madison in 1965. He is one of three sons of George Chryst, who played football and coached at UW-Madison in addition to tenures as coach and athletic director at Madison Edgewood High School and UW-Platteville (pictured above).
Paul Chryst began his coaching career at the age of 24 as a graduate assistant while he attended West Virginia from 1989-90. Following that, he coached in various capacities for the San Antonio Riders (1991-92), UW-Platteville (1993, pictured), the Ottawa Rough Riders (1994), Illinois State (1995), the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1996), and Oregon State (1997-98) before becoming the tight ends coach for the San Diego Chargers from 1999-2001.
He first returned to UW-Madison in 2002 for a year as tight ends coach, then left again for the offensive coordinator job at Oregon State from 2003-04.
Paul Chryst was Wisconsin's co-offensive coordinator (he shared the role with Brian White) and tight ends coach in 2005, the last year Barry Alvarez served as head coach. The team won 10 and lost 3 and ended with a 24-10 win vs. No. 7 Auburn at the Capital One Bowl. They finished ranked 15th in the AP poll.
After entering the season unranked after a disastrous 2008, the Badgers had surprising success in 2009 losing only three games to No. 9 Ohio State, No. 11 Iowa and Northwestern and shutting out Purdue 37-0 at home. The team finished the season fourth in the Big Ten and ranked No. 16 after a 20-14 win vs. Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl.
The Badgers followed 2009's success with a great season in 2010, losing only one regular season game (34-24 at Michigan State) to end as Big Ten co-champions with the Spartans. They earned a coveted Rose Bowl berth and held their own against No. 3 TCU but lost 21-19 after a failed two-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter. They ended the season ranked No. 7 by AP.
2011 was another strong season for the Badgers. Led by QB Russell Wilson, Wisconsin lost only two regular-season games (at Michigan State and at Ohio State), won the first-ever Big Ten Championship game 42-39 against Michigan State, and earned their second Rose Bowl berth in a row. They lost the Rose Bowl 45-38 — a record high score for the Rose Bowl — vs. No. 6 Oregon. The ended the season ranked No. 10 by AP.
Paul Chryst was a finalist for the Broyles Award, which honors the nation's top assistant coach. Following the Big Ten Championship game, Chryst took a job as the head football coach for the University of Pittsburgh on Dec. 22, a job he would hold for the next three years.
Paul Chryst had a rocky start in his first year at Pitt, the program's last season in the Big East. After losing their first game 31-17 against Youngstown State, the Panthers went on to a losing season, winning just six games and losing the BBVA Compass Bowl 38-17 against Ole Miss.
In their first season in the ACC, Pitt again lost their home opener in 2013, getting wiped out 41-13 against No. 11 Florida State. They lost five more games during the regulars season, but won the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl 30-27 against Bowling Green.
Back with the Badgers, Chryst hit the ground running, overcoming a loss in their first game vs. No. 3 Alabama in neutral territory to finish third in the Big Ten West Division with a 9-3 record in the regular season. The Badgers went on to beat USC 23-21 in the Holiday Bowl and ended ranked No. 21 by AP. The Badgers finished with the top scoring defense in the country and came in second in total defense in 2015.
The 2016 season began with a bang when the unranked Wisconsin Badgers upset No. 5 LSU 16-14 in the season opener at Lambeau Field. They lost only two games in the regular season (at No. 4 Michigan and vs. No. 2 Ohio State), but lost the Big Ten Championship game 38-31 to No. 6 Penn State. The team ended the year with a 24-16 win vs. Western Michigan in the Cotton Bowl Classic and were ranked No. 9 by the AP.
In Chryst's third season as head coach, Wisconsin ran the table against an uncharacteristically soft schedule (playing only two ranked opponents) to end the regular season with a 12-0 record. It was the team's first undefeated season since 1912.
Fired Wisconsin football coach Paul Chryst, right, served on staff with Barry Alvarez.
Former Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan, left, discusses a play with coach Paul Chryst, who was fired Sunday.
An angry Paul Chryst after Illinois scored against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall. Bret Bielema's Illinois team beat the Badgers 34-10.
Steve Apps, For the State Journal
Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst speaks to reporters during Big Ten football media days July 27 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.Â
DARRON CUMMINGS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst was the offensive coordinator at Illinois State in 1995. He was fired after the season despite the Redbirds winning their final three games, including two over ranked opponents.Â
KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst watches during the second half of the season opener against Illinois State Sept. 3 at Camp Randall Stadium.
Morry Gash, Associated Press
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst watches during the Sept. 10 game against Washington State at Camp Randall.
Morry Gash, Associated Press
Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst, left, and Ohio State head coach Ryan Day pose with the Big Ten championship trophy prior to the 2019 title game. Day and the Buckeyes beat the Badgers 52-21 on Sept. 24, 2022.
AJ MAST, Associated Press
Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz (5) talks with coach Paul Chryst against Illinois State Sept. 3.
Aaron Gash, Associated Press
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst watches from the sideline during the season opener Sept. 3 against Illinois State.
Aaron Gash, Associated Press
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