With the departure of six assistant coaches directly following the 2012 Rose Bowl, the Wisconsin football team became a true land of opportunity for football coaches.
As such, head coach Bret Bielema is already well at work to fill those vacancies, hiring Matt Canada as the program’s new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, appointing Zach Azzanni to lead UW-Madison’s wide receivers and Mike Markuson to guide the offensive line.
The hirings, which came between Jan. 16 and Jan. 21, have given shape to an offensive staff that will have just one carryover from 2011. Positions to coach tight ends, linebackers and safeties, meanwhile, still remain unfilled as of Jan. 21.
Markuson is the latest to join Bielema’s staff after spending the previous 14 years coaching in the SEC at Arkansas (1998-2007) and Ole Miss (2008-2011).
Since 2003, Markuson has developed six players into All-Americans, including Michael Oher, who was a first-round draft choice by the Baltimore Ravens in 2009 and subject of the movie “The Blind Side.” He will replace Bob Bostad, who in four years at Wisconsin churned out four All-Americans.
Markuson has been coaching college football since 1983 and in his five years as run game coordinator at Arkansas, the Razorbacks led the SEC in rushing four times. In 2006 and 2007, Arkansas finished fourth nationally in rushing offense.
“I’m very thankful to two people, coach Bielema and coach Alvarez,” Markuson said. “I go back with coach Alvarez to 1989
when I was a graduate assistant at Notre Dame and when I was interested
in the job, I had [former Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt] call
him, and that really got the ball rolling.”
“It’s great to be able to get
back home. I’m a Minnesota guy, and my family and
I are thrilled to be back in the Midwest and in the Big Ten.”
When it came to filling the vacant offensive coordinator position, Bielema started with a list of 75 names and narrowed it down to 12 interviews. Canada was Bielema’s last interview and the only job offer he extended.
“I was happy I waited a long time,” Bielema said. “I really like the fact that Matt has been in a couple different positions and he’s had success. He’s had to blend into what’s around him and make the most of the strengths of the players of where he’s at.”
Canada – who has built up seven years of experience as an offensive coordinator and 11 as a quarterbacks coach with Indiana, Northern Illinois and Butler – spent the 2011 season at NIU in an identical role he’ll have at UW.
“I’m truly excited for the opportunity to come to Wisconsin,” Canada said. “It’s a program that I’ve followed closely for a number of years. I’ve always been impressed with their tradition, especially offensively with their style of play, and I can’t wait to be a part of that.”
He faces the challenging task of replacing Paul Chryst at both positions, who led record-breaking offenses at Wisconsin that averaged 31.9 points and 408.6 yards per game over six years.
In 2011, Canada led a formidable offense that finished within the country’s top 12 in scoring offense, total offense and rushing offense. Both NIU and UW were two of five teams in the nation to average at least 230 yards rushing and passing last season.
Canada employed the spread offense at Northern Illinois and at Indiana, but it appears he is willing to adopt the pro-style offense usually seen at Wisconsin.
“Matt has a terrific history as an offensive coordinator and has excelled at developing quarterbacks throughout his career,” Bielema said. “I know he is very excited about running a pro-style offense and handling a game the way we typically have at Wisconsin. I think this is a great hire for us, and I can’t wait for him to get to work with our coaches and players.”
Huskies’ quarterback Chandler Harnish finished ninth in the country in total offense last season, averaging 328.2 yards per game 2010. In his first stint at Northern Illinois, Canada also coached two-time NFL All-Pro running back Michael Turner as well as current UW running backs coach Thomas Hammock.
Three quarterbacks Canada oversaw at Indiana – Ben Chappell, Kellen Lewis and Blake Powers – hold the school’s top three spots in single-season touchdowns, yards, completions, attempts and completion percentage.
As for Azzanni, Wisconsin will also be his third home in as many years, as he spent 2011 as offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach for Western Kentucky and 2010 coaching wideouts for Florida.
Azzanni replaces DelVaughn Alexander, who left Wisconsin to join Arizona State’s staff after five years at Wisconsin.
“Zach is a great fit for Wisconsin,” Bielema said. “He is a terrific coach who stresses fundamentals and is also a great recruiter. His coaching philosophy, personality and character fit perfectly with what we do here and how we do it. I’ve known Zach for a number of years, and I’m very excited to be able to add him to our staff.”
Azzanni stressed an importance to teach his wideouts how to block, which fits well into Wisconsin’s famed run game.
“We’re going to block,” Azzanni said. “We’re going to be the best blocking receivers. The reason I believe in that is because it opens up the passing game for those kids later.”
Over the course of his 13-year coaching career, Azzanni has twice worked alongside Urban Meyer, now head coach at Ohio State, as a graduate assistant at Bowling Green from 2001-02 and again at Florida in 2010.
With Azzanni commanding Western Kentucky’s offense, the Hilltoppers featured standouts at running back and tight end. Bobby Rainey averaged 141.3 yards per game, second highest in the nation, while Jack Doyle finished fifth in the nation among tight ends with 614 receiving yards.
Over his tenure coaching wide receivers at Bowling Green (2003-06) and Central Michigan (2007-09), Azzanni helped produce seven players that signed NFL contracts, including Pro Bowler Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
