The Badgers Hire Two New Coaches for 2012

By J. Brig | Posted Wednesday, January 25

The Badgers football front office welcomed two new faces to their coaching staff this week. Head coach Brett Bielema sorted through over seventy-five applications for the open positions of offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. This weekend, Bielema announced the names of the two men who would join Wisconsin. Former Northern Illinois offensive coordinator Matt Canada will be taking over that same spot on the Badgers roster, replacing Paul Chryst who was offered a head coaching job with Pittsburgh. Zach Azzanni takes over for DelVaughn Alexander as Wisconsin's new wide receivers coach. Azzanni previously coordinated the offense for Western Kentucky, where he oversaw the development of many talented players including tailback Bobby Rainey and tight end Jack Doyle.

Canada also brings experience in coaching an offensive line. In 2011, he led the Huskies to a top twelve national finish in scoring, rushing, and total offense. Under his supervision, the team finished the season at 11-3, which was good enough for the Huskies to win the Mid-American Conference title.

Canada's spread-attack coaching style (something he picked up during his time with Indiana,) has led some skeptics to cry foul. Chryst managed a “pro-style” offense during the six years he was with Bielema. A sudden change is a scary thought for a line that lost multiple seniors and has only two experienced receivers. Bielema down played some of those fears by referring to Canada's stint as assistant coach at NIU in the late nineties. Wisconsin might work out a hybrid between spread and pro style for 2012.

Azzanni has been coaching wide receivers since 1999, when he was hired by Valparaiso. Prior to that, he played wide receiver for Central Michigan. In 2009, he coached Antonio Brown and Bryan Anderson at Central Michigan. That year Anderson would set an NCAA record for most consecutive games with at least one reception and Brown would go on to start for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl the very next year. At bowling green, he helped Charles Sharon break three school records.