Stature and coaches, 1936–2026
The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.
Run↔pass identity, by season
Every coach
Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.
5th-best Wisconsin tenure of 11 by the numbers.
Followed Jim Leonhard (2022).
| Season | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||
| Record | 1-0 | 7-6 | 5-7 | 4-8 | 5-3 | |
| Postseason | W bowl | L bowl | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | #58 | #23 | #27 | #78 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||
| Pass rate | — | 50.8 | 46.6 | 39.2 | 43.3 | |
| Coordinators | ||||||
| OC | — | Phil Longo | Phil Longo | Jeff Grimes | Jeff Grimes | |
| DC | — | Colin Hitschler / Mike Tressel | Alex Grinch / Mike Tressel | Mike Tressel | Mike Tressel | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||
| Offense | — | 45 | 23 | 8 | 37 | |
| Defense | — | 60 | 48 | 56 | 97 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | 45.4 | 41.1 | 38.6 | 39.4 | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | 42.5 | 39.8 | 26.7 | 32.7 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | 35.4 | 30.3 | 32.4 | 26.1 | |
Underperforms his recruiting talent on offense and performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on defense.
A portal-built roster.
Brings in bigger-than-position-typical players than most.
Recruits younger transfers than most — more of a development bet.
4 NFL Draft picks: Tanor Bortolini (2024), Braelon Allen (2024), Jack Nelson (2025), Hunter Wohler (2025)
2nd-best Wisconsin tenure of 11 by the numbers.
Followed Gary Andersen (2013–2014) · succeeded by Jim Leonhard (2022).
| Season | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||
| Record | 10-3 | 11-3 | 13-1 | 8-5 | 10-4 | 4-3 | 9-4 | 2-3 | |
| Postseason | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | #41 | #35 | #39 | #45 | #29 | #25 | #15 | #44 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||
| Pass rate | 45.0 | 32.9 | 34.1 | 34.7 | 36.4 | 40.8 | 34.6 | 39.4 | |
| Coordinators | |||||||||
| OC | Joe Rudolph | Joe Rudolph | Joe Rudolph | Joe Rudolph | Joe Rudolph | Joe Rudolph | Joe Rudolph | Bobby Engram | |
| DC | Dave Aranda | Justin Wilcox | Jim Leonhard | Jim Leonhard | Jim Leonhard | Jim Leonhard | Jim Leonhard | Jim Leonhard | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||
| Offense | 29 | 75 | 81 | 85 | 89 | 22 | 44 | 51 | |
| Defense | 93 | 84 | 98 | 81 | 90 | 96 | 99 | 79 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 37.1 | 22.7 | 24.5 | 25.3 | 30.9 | 30.7 | 29.0 | 27.7 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 44.6 | 23.7 | 28.5 | 41.0 | 26.1 | 40.0 | 24.6 | 30.5 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 13.3 | 13.7 | 12.9 | 20.5 | 44.2 | 40.9 | 33.3 | 28.6 | |
Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on offense and outperforms his recruiting talent on defense.
Barely touches the portal — recruits and develops his own.
Brings in bigger-than-position-typical players than most.
Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.
29 NFL Draft picks: Joe Schobert (2016), Derek Watt (2016), T.J. Watt (2017), Ryan Ramczyk (2017), Vince Biegel (2017), Nick Nelson (2018), Troy Fumagalli (2018), Natrell Jamerson (2018) + 21 more
1 player-season honored (All-America / national award): Leo Chenal (2021)
1st-best Wisconsin tenure of 11 by the numbers.
Followed Barry Alvarez (1990–2005) · succeeded by Gary Andersen (2013–2014).
| Season | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||||
| Record | 12-1 | 9-4 | 7-6 | 10-3 | 11-2 | 11-3 | 8-5 | |
| Postseason | W bowl | L bowl | L bowl | W bowl | L bowl | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #36 | #32 | #37 | #42 | #46 | #44 | #65 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||||
| Pass rate | 38.2 | 37.2 | 37.0 | 36.9 | 32.1 | 35.0 | 31.4 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||||
| Offense | 47 | 71 | 91 | 96 | 100 | 100 | 54 | |
| Defense | 97 | 26 | 64 | 75 | 31 | 45 | 63 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 30.9 | 32.7 | 28.4 | 28.9 | 29.5 | 32.8 | 24.7 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 27.7 | 25.5 | 27.0 | 29.2 | 23.2 | 32.0 | 27.3 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 35.0 | 12.5 | 18.6 | 11.1 | 26.7 | 31.2 | 32.6 | |
25 NFL Draft picks: Joe Thomas (2007), Jack Ikegwuonu (2008), Taylor Mehlhaff (2008), Nick Hayden (2008), Paul Hubbard (2008), Matt Shaughnessy (2009), DeAndre Levy (2009), Kraig Urbik (2009) + 17 more
3rd-best Wisconsin tenure of 11 by the numbers.
Followed Don Morton (1987–1989) · succeeded by Bret Bielema (2006–2012).
| Season | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2012 | 2014 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||||||||||||
| Record | 1-10 | 5-6 | 5-6 | 10-1-1 | 7-4-1 | 4-5-2 | 8-5 | 8-5 | 11-1 | 10-2 | 9-4 | 5-7 | 8-6 | 7-6 | 9-3 | 10-3 | 0-1 | 1-0 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | W bowl | W bowl | — | W bowl | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | — | W bowl | L bowl | L bowl | W bowl | L bowl | W bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | #36 | #30 | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||||||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37.9 | 37.1 | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||||||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 69 | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 72 | 19 | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 26.0 | 33.2 | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20.5 | 27.7 | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 51.4 | 17.9 | — | — | |
55 NFL Draft picks: Don Davey (1991), Troy Vincent (1992), Chuck Belin (1993), Joe Panos (1994), Mark Montgomery (1994), Cory Raymer (1995), Terrell Fletcher (1995), Mike Verstegen (1995) + 47 more
9th-best Wisconsin tenure of 11 by the numbers.
Followed Jim Hilles (1986) · succeeded by Barry Alvarez (1990–2005).
8th-best Wisconsin tenure of 11 by the numbers.
Followed John Jardine (1970–1977) · succeeded by Jim Hilles (1986).
| Season | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||
| Record | 5-4-2 | 4-7 | 4-7 | 7-5 | 7-5 | 7-4 | 7-4-1 | 5-6 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | L bowl | W bowl | — | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
20 NFL Draft picks: Lawrence Johnson (1979), Ira Matthews (1979), Ray Snell (1980), Ray Sydnor (1980), Tom Schremp (1980), Dave Ahrens (1981), Von Mansfield (1982), Matt Vandenboom (1983) + 12 more
10th-best Wisconsin tenure of 11 by the numbers.
Followed John Coatta (1967–1969) · succeeded by Dave McClain (1978–1985).
6 NFL Draft picks: Bill Gregory (1971), Lance Moon (1972), Mike Webster (1974), Dennis Lick (1976), Steve Wagner (1976), Terry Stieve (1976)
11th-best Wisconsin tenure of 11 by the numbers.
Followed Milt Bruhn (1956–1966) · succeeded by John Jardine (1970–1977).
4th-best Wisconsin tenure of 11 by the numbers.
Followed Ivy Williamson (1949–1955) · succeeded by John Coatta (1967–1969).
6th-best Wisconsin tenure of 11 by the numbers.
Followed Harry Stuhldreher (1936–1948) · succeeded by Milt Bruhn (1956–1966).
7th-best Wisconsin tenure of 11 by the numbers.
Succeeded by Ivy Williamson (1949–1955).