Wisconsin Football: Paul Chryst extension through 2023 a wise move

The Wisconsin football program has extended head coach Paul Chryst’s contract through the year 2023.

With the recent success the Wisconsin Badgers have experienced with head coach Paul Chryst, it is to no surprise that the athletic department wants to lock him up for a long, long time.

Since Chryst became the head coach at Wisconsin three full seasons ago, the Badgers have lost just seven total games — with all but one coming by seven points or less. In fact, the only loss Chryst and the Badgers have endured by double digits was his first ever game as head coach- a 35-17 defeat to national powerhouse Alabama.

Chryst’s overall record at Wisconsin is current 34-7 and he is now 3-0 in bowl games after the team’s most recent victory over Miami in the Orange Bowl.

The success of Chryst and the program has not gone unrecognized as Barry Alvarez and the athletic department have extended Chryst and his contract again, this time through the year 2023.

Chryst will earn just around $3.3 million in the year 2018 and will see his salary increase by $100,000 in each year after.

The deal for Chryst is much deserved as the Badgers are coming off their best season in program history. The team was one win away from making the College Football Playoff despite overwhelming injuries and an inexperienced offense. Next year, the team is set to return 10-of-11 starters from 2017, including starting running back Jonathan Taylor, quarterback Alex Hornibrook, and four big-time wide receivers led by junior Quintez Cephus.

Next: Way-too-early college football top 25 rankings for 2018

Wisconsin will be tested in the upcoming years as non-conference dates loom with South Florida in Notre Dame, as well as cross-over games at Michigan and at Penn State next season. The Badgers have been listed as a top ten team in many publications’ early look at next year and will be a candidate to compete for a spot in the 2018 College Football Playoff.