College Football America’s 2015 Coaching Carousel update: Chryst Heads Home to Madison

New Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst. (Photo by ESPNWisconsin)

Well, it took long enough, but Wisconsin finally announced Paul Chryst as their new head coach.

I mean it doesn’t get much better than a Madison, Wis., native who played and coached at the university, does it? Plus, the guy’s pretty good at his job, even though his 19-19 record at Pittsburgh in three seasons doesn’t necessarily suggest it. However, look at the young talent that Chryst has accumulated in the Steel City the past couple of years and you’ll feel real good for the guy that inherits that job.

This was a slam-dunk hire for Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez. Now Chryst just has to deliver. Fortunately he has a talented program and a fertile recruiting pipeline to work with.

So if you like to play Six Degrees of Separation, check this out:

Nebraska fired Bo Pelini and then hired Mike Riley away from Oregon State;

Oregon State then lured Gary Andersen away from Wisconsin to be its head coach;

Wisconsin then hired Chryst away from Pittsburgh.

You’re up, Pitt. The last three times this job has opened up the Panthers have hired two sitting head coaches and an offensive coordinator. Really, with the ACC affiliation and the aforementioned solid pipeline of talent it’s an attractive job. Which is why, reportedly, the Panthers have already reached out to former Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano.

As for the other open jobs:

Michigan. Jim Harbaugh is reportedly considering an embarrassment of riches to return to his alma mater — six years, up to $48 million. The conventional wisdom is that he’ll stay in the NFL. But if that report is accurate you can’t say Michigan isn’t trying. That’s $1.1 million more per year than Alabama’s Nick Saban receives.

Um, Bill Battle — yeah that’s Saban’s agent calling you cell phone. He’d like a word on behalf of his client. You know, the one that’s led the Tide to three national titles since 2009 and is in the College Football Playoff?

Colorado State. Finally, some traction. 247Dawgs.com got Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity to confirm that Bulldogs offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has interviewed. USA Today reported that Notre Dame assistant Tony Alford has interviewed. OrangeBloods.com reported that Texas defensive coordinator Vance Bedford has also interviewed. Bobo and Bedford were on College Football America’s Hot Coaches list throughout this season.

2015 FBS COACHING CAROUSEL