Joe took a job at Virginia Tech to be the Offensive line coach. He has been Chryst’s offensive line coach, since Paul was at Pitt. Rudolph played at Wisconsin for Barry Alvarez in the early 90’s. After a small stint in the NFL, he came back to Wisconsin as a coach. Overall, he has done a nice job with the O-Line. In the last few years, his offensive lines have under performed in my opinion. Wisconsin would always have a first or second round draft pick from the line. Our highest offensive linemen, that got drafted last year, was in the sixth round. He also was our offensive coordinator in the past, until Chryst took it over. A lot of fans and reporters have said Paul needs to hire a true offensive coordinator and fire Rudolph. The problem is, Joe is his best friend. How do you fire your best friend?
Now that he is leaving on his own, Paul can do that and I surely hope he does. The ideal situation is you put the inside linebackers coach as the offensive line coach. Next you make the outside linebackers coach be the inside linebackers coach too. Bob Bolstad was the offensive line and tight end coach before, at Wisconsin. He left to coach in the NFL. Two years ago he came back to be the inside line backers coach. Finally Paul Chryst hires a true offensive coordinator.
It seems like Paul and Joe talked and thought this would be the best thing for both parties. Paul doesn’t have to fire Joe. Joe leaves on a good note, which he should, because of all the time he put at Wisconsin. Now that it’s official I think everybody wins. Fans and alumni get what they were asking for and Joe Rudolph gets a clean break from the University he loves.
On Wisconsin!!