Paul Chryst

Paul Chryst (born 1966 in Madison, Wisconsin) is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the University of Wisconsin football team. He is in his third year as a Badgers assistant, and has previously coached professionally in both the CFL and NFL.

Background

Chryst graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1988 with a degree in political science, and was a three-time football letterwinner for the Badgers. He added a master’s degree in educational administration from West Virginia in 1990.

Coaching career

Paul Chryst started his career as a graduate assistant at West Virginia (1989-90), and was then an assistant coach for the World League’s San Antonio Riders (1991-92), UW-Platteville (1993), Ottawa Rough Riders (1994), Illinois State (1995), Saskatchewan Roughriders (1996), and Oregon State (1997-98).

He was the tight ends coach for the NFL's San Diego Chargers from 1999-2001, where he was instrumental in the development of Freddie Jones into one of the NFL’s top tight ends, as well as coaching Steve Heiden, now a starter with the Cleveland Browns.

Chryst was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Oregon State in 2003-04. The Beavers ranked 10th in total offense (463.0 ypg) and No. 6 nationally in passing yardage per game (328.1) in 2003. The 2003 Beavers became the first team in NCAA Division I history with a 4,000-yard passer, 1,500-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers. Among the Oregon State stars he coached were RB Ken Simonton, the school’s career rushing leader, QB Derek Anderson, who left as the Pac 10’s No. 2 career passing leader, and RB Steven Jackson, a 2004 first-round draft choice for the St. Louis Rams.

After a one-year stint as the Badgers’ tight ends coach in 2002, Chryst returned to Wisconsin in 2005 and under his direction, the Wisconsin offense showed immediate and drastic improvement. The 2005 team set school records for both scoring average (34.3 ppg) and for points scored in a season (446). UW scored at least 40 points six times in 2005. After ending the 2005 season with a 10-3 record, the 2006 offense was again potent under Chryst, and helped the team to a strong 12-1 finish.