Chryst content with current challenge at Pitt

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Pittsburgh football coach Paul Chryst understands why his name popped up as a candidate for the open job at Wisconsin.

He’s also through discussing the prospects of him returning to his hometown and alma mater to replace Bret Bielema, who bolted suddenly last week for Arkansas.

“I’m not going to talk too much about that stuff really,” Chryst said Friday as the Panthers began preparations for next month’s BBVA Compass Bowl against Ole Miss.

Chryst is from Madison, Wis., and both played and coached for the Badgers before taking over at Pitt last December. Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, who put in a few calls to help Chryst land his first head coaching job, said it wouldn’t be right for Chryst to leave after just one year.

That’s just fine with Chryst, who endured an up-and-down season this fall as Pitt went 6-6 and earned its third straight trip to Birmingham, Ala., for the Compass Bowl. Chryst called the job speculation “a natural part of the profession” but downplayed the notion there was ever any real chance he would force the Panthers to search for their fifth head coach in two years.

“I think there’s a lot more buzz surrounding (the Wisconsin job) than there was (with) myself and with the guys that we know,” he said.

Still, Alvarez appears to be in no rush to make a hire. He’s already announced he’ll coach the Badgers in the Rose Bowl, buying him time to find the right candidate. On paper, Chryst would appear to be a natural fit.

But Chryst is content about the challenge that lies ahead at Pitt, which will move to the Atlantic Coast Conference next fall. The Panthers were an enigma this fall, beating Virginia Tech and Rutgers while nearly upsetting undefeated and top-ranked Notre Dame. Yet they also lost to Youngstown State and Connecticut and failed to build any real sense of momentum.

Still, the fact he is apparently out of the mix at Wisconsin drew a sigh of relief from a fan base and a roster that’s going through a bit of coaching fatigue. Chryst received a standing ovation from the student section at a Pitt men’s basketball game last week. He appreciated the gesture. He was just a little stunned by it.

“That was a little cheesy,” Chryst said with a laugh before adding, “I haven’t earned it.”