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Wisconsin Football: 4 possible replacements for Paul Chryst

By Dante Pryor

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Paul Chryst of the Wisconsin Badgers stands with the Orange Bowl trophy after the win against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2017 Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Wisconsin defeated Miami 34-24. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Paul Chryst of the Wisconsin Badgers stands with the Orange Bowl trophy after the win against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2017 Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Wisconsin defeated Miami 34-24. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /
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ATHENS, GA – SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach Sean Lewis of the Kent State Golden Flashes looks on during the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 24, 2022, in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA – SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach Sean Lewis of the Kent State Golden Flashes looks on during the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 24, 2022, in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

2. Sean Lewis, Kent State HC

Like Lance Leipold, Kent State head coach Sean Lewis took over a football program without much history. Kent State has played major college football for 61 years and has been to four bowl games, winning one. Lewis has taken the Golden Flashes to two of those bowls and has its only bowl game win.

Like Jim Leonard (spoiler alert, he tops this list), he played at Wisconsin under Bret Bielema. Recruited as a high school quarterback, Lewis transitioned to tight end while at Wisconsin.

After spending three seasons at his high school alma mater as offensive coordinator, Lewis bounced around for six seasons before gaining notoriety as Syracuse’s offensive coordinator under head coach Dino Babers. Kent State liked what they saw and hired him in 2018.

Wisconsin has attempted to “modernize” its offense for the past three seasons. As a former player, Lewis is well aware of the Badgers’ culture and philosophy, so that he could add some tempo concepts to the Badgers’ power football identity.

The one argument against hiring Lewis could also serve as a reason to hire him, his youth. Lewis has not spent much time as a coach; one could argue he’s not ready for a job as big as Wisconsin. On the other hand, a younger coach could relate to players better.

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