Alvarez Speaks

Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez met the media this morning to discuss his plans to coach the team during the Rose Bowl on January 1^st and where the search for a new head football coach will go.  Alvarez says that he decided to coach the game when team captains reached out asked him to do it.  He says he’ll be a game manager and the assistant coaches will handle the game planning for Stanford.  He made it clear that he is going to Pasadena to win the game. Alvarez says that the first he learned of Bret Bielema leaving for Arkansas was when Bielema actually told him he was leaving.  He said he was never contacted by Arkansas to ask permission to speak with his head coach.  He says there are no rules about asking for permission but it’s a common courtesy. Alvarez told the media that this is a one game thing and he will not consider coaching full time again.  He says that the process will begin with coaches who have head coaching experience.  He says that Paul Chryst, who left for Pittsburgh last year will not be interviewed for the job.  Alvarez says that he pushed hard for Chryst to get that job and it wouldn’t be right to go and hire him back at UW after just one season.  Alvarez was also asked about comments Bielema made about low pay for UW assistants and that being a reason for him leaving.  He says that the pay scale is fair and competitive and people want to work there.

Click here to listen to the full Barry Alvarez Press Conference