Chryst hasn't made decision
UW assistant has coaching options
By JEFF POTRYKUS/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Posted: Feb. 19, 2007
In the last week the University of Wisconsin's offensive coordinator has interviewed with the Dallas Cowboys for a vacant position on their staff and received a multiyear contract offer to remain with the Badgers, who finished in the top 10 of both major polls last season.
Yet according to sources, neither Dallas coach Wade Phillips nor UW coach Bret Bielema had learned of Chryst's plans as of Monday.
The plot thickened Monday when the San Diego Chargers hired Norv Turner as head coach. Turner, who was the San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator last season, worked with Chryst in San Diego for three seasons (1999-2001) and the two remain close.
Turner was the Chargers' offensive coordinator during that time; Chryst was the team's tight ends coach and has been credited with developing Freddie Jones into one of the better tight ends in the National Football League at the time. Chryst would be an ideal fit for Turner as his offensive coordinator or quarterbacks coach and, according to a source, Turner has already contacted Chryst.
Neither Bielema nor Chryst could be reached Monday but Turner said the Chargers' current offensive staff would remain intact.
"The staff is in place," Turner said during a news conference. "We want to keep the staff that's in place."
Chryst, who recently completed his third overall season at UW, was approached by the Cowboys to be their quarterbacks coach. UW officials put together a multiyear offer, including a substantial pay raise. Chryst was paid $200,000 in 2006.
According to multiple sources, Chryst was still mulling over his options as of Monday morning, before news broke of Turner's hiring by San Diego.
Those sources have indicated that Chryst enjoys both college and professional football. However, is more comfortable focusing on coaching than recruiting, the latter a critical element of college coaching.
Another factor weighing on Chryst's mind is the impact his decision will have on his family life. Chryst is married and has three children and the family enjoys living in Wisconsin.
Chryst's coaching résumé lists a variety of experiences and stops at both the pro and college levels.
Chryst was UW's tight ends coach in 2002 and returned as co-offensive coordinator in 2005, hired both times by Barry Alvarez.
In 2005, Chryst helped direct an offense that set school records for points in a season (446) and for season scoring average (34.3 per game). UW scored at least 40 points six times in 2005 as quarterback John Stocco set UW season records for passing yards (2,920), passing touchdowns (21) and completions (197).
Chryst was UW's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach last season. He lost all his wide receivers, tight ends and tailbacks from the 2005 team, including five starters.
Despite those personnel losses, UW averaged 29.2 points, the No. 9 mark in school history, last season. Sophomore Travis Beckum set school records for catches (61) and receiving yards (903) by a tight end and tailback P.J. Hill led the Big Ten Conference in rushing with 1,569 yards.
