Wisconsin’s Paul Chryst Named Next Pitt Football Coach

In a statement released Thursday, AD Steve Pederson is excited to welcome Chryst into the fold.

In his introductory press conference, Chryst said he would coach the Badgers’ offense in the Rose Bowl before coming on full-time to Pitt. And in what might be construed at some shots at his predecessor, or at least an attempt to prove he’s not Todd Graham, he made is clear that he believes “its about what you do and not about what you say” and that “this job is all about the players.”

According to Adam Hoge, Chryst has been in Pittsburgh for a while already Thursday, while Bob Lichtenfels reports Pitt players were told of the hire shortly ago. From a statement, here’s Chryst on his new gig:

Chryst has never been a head coach, but has been his team’s offensive coordinator at six different stops. His Badgers attack has helped Wisconsin reach two straight Rose Bowls.

Pitt dropped FIU coach Mario Cristobal as a candidate on Wednesday, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and surely that wouldn’t have anything to do with Cristobal losing an exhibition game the night before. Cristobal was the only other candidate remaining, so there we have it.

At this point, it seems, we’re just waiting for Pitt to announce a press conference and put some fancy stuff on the front of their website, likely without surname puns some athletic department intern is storing away.

What’s that? This isn’t December 2010? Pittsburgh has since spent a year in Todd Graham’s spread-out system and now have to conform back to a more power-based, run-first attack? Okay, that’s not ... optimal. But in theory, Chryst is still a potentially strong hire, and he should be able to have some fun playing with the toys on hand. As soon as he figures out how to craft a better offensive line, anyway.

Chryst is evidently about to become Pittsburgh’s fourth head coach in 12 months after Dave Wannstedt’s resignation, Mike Haywood’s drama and Todd Graham’s fleeing. Now seems like a good time to check out the offensive personnel he would inherit next season assuming he signs the dotted line on the contract.

The Pitt head coaching search may be nearing an end as Paul Chryst is reportedly near a deal to become the Panthers next head coach. Chryst and Mario Cristobal had emerged as the top candidates for the job left vacant when Todd Graham bolted for Arizona State last week, though it was unclear which was the front-runner.

According to Paul Zeise, Chryst is the guy (two tweets from an hour apart, edited together for clarity).

So how much more is he making at ASU than he was at Pitt? As Panthers receiver Cam Saddler shares in an anecdote, Graham’s not banking any more in Tempe than he was before:

Whatever it is that motivates Graham’s employment decisions, it’s apparently not money? A man of mystery who makes one want to trot out all of the Dark Knight quotes.

He very well may have been, giving ISU plenty of reason to lock him up. He’s highly respected as a motivator and as a fearless big-game coach, having knocked off No. 2 Oklahoma State this year and Nebraska in 2009, nearly tripping up others along the way. The Clones have made two bowl bids in his five years, narrowly missing a third -- he’s the second coach since 1978 to take Iowa State bowling.

Chryst reportedly interviewed for the Illinois and Kansas jobs, and Stoops is believed to be in talks to replace Ted Roof at Auburn.

If Rhoads can take Iowa State to bowl games, surely he could succeed at Pitt. A reassuring list overall, except for the Zook part.

Pittsburgh coach Todd Graham will head west to become the new head coach of Arizona State, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Pat Forde. Graham will replace fired ASU coach Dennis Erickson.

Graham was hired by Pittsburgh in January after the Panthers’ previous choice to replace Dave Wannstedt, former Miami of Ohio coach Mike Haywood, was arrested on domestic violence charges just two weeks after being hired by Pitt. Prior to his one year in Pittsburgh, Graham had been Tulsa’s head coach from 2006 to 2010, and Rice’s head coach in 2005.