The Wisconsin football hired former Dallas Cowboy running backs coach Gary Brown on Thursday, the hire made to replace the Badgers’ longtime running backs coach John Settle who took a job at Kentucky a few weeks ago.
Brown comes to Wisconsin with an impressive resume, coaching running backs in Dallas for a seven-year period that saw three NFL rushing titles — one from DeMarco Murray and two from Ezekiel Elliot — and previous experience with the Cleveland Browns and Rutgers before that.
Head Coach Paul Chryst met with the media today ahead of the program beginning spring practice tomorrow. During the media availability, he touched on the program’s hire of Brown.
“We’re really excited to have the opportunity to work with [Gary] Brown,” Chryst said. “Obviously the fact that he was available, we feel fortunate.”
Chryst also revealed how the hire came to be, giving credit to a former Wisconsin and Dallas Cowboy center who actually ignited the process.
“We’re grateful that Gary [Brown] was available and the process was pretty cool,” Chryst said. “First, Travis Frederick reached out to me. Then pretty quickly I realized he’d be a great fit.”
#Badgers Paul Chryst on how UW got new RB coach Gary Brown. Former UW lineman Travis Frederick, who worked in Dallas with Brown, reached out to Chryst. Brown was available; UW had an opening. Boom.
— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) March 29, 2021
While topping Settle’s 11-year resume that included developing running backs P.J. Hill, John Clay, Montee Ball, James White, Corey Clement, Dare Ogunbowale and Jonathan Taylor won’t be an easy feat, Brown comes to Madison with years of high-level experience with some of the NFL’s best.
Without former Wisconsin and Dallas Cowboy center Travis Frederick, we may be having a completely different conversation.
Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.
[listicle id=29971]