Notre Dame Assistant Alvarez Accepts Head Post at Wisconsin

Barry Alvarez, assistant head coach at Notre Dame, has accepted an offer to become football coach at the University of Wisconsin.

Pat Richter, Wisconsin’s new athletic director, was en route to Miami, where he expected to meet with Alvarez before the Fighting Irish met No. 1 Colorado in the Orange Bowl.

“I hope to bring him back tomorrow,” Richter said Monday after meeting with the UW Athletic Board to get approval to hire Alvarez. “Barry Alvarez was the No. 1 candidate in my mind.”

Alvarez, 42, who spent three years at Notre Dame, replaces Don Morton, fired last month after compiling a 6-27 record over three years.

Alvarez, an assistant coach at Iowa for eight years before moving to Notre Dame, has been a major factor in helping Coach Lou Holtz rebuild the Fighting Irish into a national power. As the defensive coordinator for the 1988 national champions, Alvarez coached a unit that ranked third in the nation in points allowed (12.4). This season, the Irish ranked 14th in total defense (295.8 yards) and 12th in points allowed (15.3).

Alvarez was to meet today with Wisconsin Chancellor Donna Shalala, who was instrumental in hiring Richter as athletic director last month.

Richter said West Virginia Coach Don Nehlen, considered a top candidate for the job, was not interested in Wisconsin.

“Don Nehlen and I had a lengthy conversation yesterday,” Richter said. “He obviously was feeling a little bit bad. (Clemson beat West Virginia, 27-7, in the Gator Bowl on Saturday). But he was appreciative” he had been considered.