AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Longhorns have a deep coaching staff that has endless seasons spent in the college football world along with NFL experience. But one notable name could reportedly be close to moving on. Per reports from Scott Dochterman of The Athletic, current Texas offensive analyst and former Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst is a finalist for the Iowa Hawkeyes offensive coordinator position, which would send him back to what’s set to be an unrecognizable Big Ten conference next season.
Chryst, 57, spent seven-plus seasons as Wisconsin’s head coach before being fired last season following a 2-3 start. A native of Wisconsin, Chryst played quarterback for the Badgers from 1986-88. As a head coach, Chryst has an 86-45 record and is 7-2 in bowl games. Prior to Wisconsin, he was a head coach at Pitt from 2012-14.
The Iowa offense could certainly use an offensive mind like Chryst’s. Despite making it to the Big Ten Championship, the Hawkeyes averaged the fewest yards per game (240.2) in the conference, which was 40 yards fewest than Michigan State, which was the second-to-last team in that category. While it’s impossible to truly measure, Chryst’s presence this season has likely had a huge impact behind the scenes. Already littered with offensive knowledge of his own, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian can’t lead a program by himself and leans on the advice of his assistants and analysts, something Chryst certainly provided. No. 3 Texas (12-1) will take on No. 2 Washington (13-0) in the College Football Playoff at the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.
