Badger football assistants promoted
January 17, 2008 | Football
Two Wisconsin football assistant coaches have been promoted and will be handling increased responsibilities when spring practice starts for the Badgers on March 8.
Dave Doeren, who has spent his first two years at Wisconsin as co-defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator, will take over as defensive coordinator following the departure of defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz, who has been named to the same position at Northwestern. In addition, Bob Bostad, the Badgers' tight ends coach since 2006 as well as the program's run game coordinator this past season, will become the program's offensive line coach.
'Dave Doeren and Bob Bostad have earned these promotions through hard work and their ability to handle additional responsibilities with our program,' head coach Bret Bielema said. 'I hired them both originally with the thought that they could both eventually move into these new positions at some point, so I'm pleased that is happening.
'I'd like to thank Mike Hankwitz for his work here the past two seasons and wish him and his family well as they move on to Northwestern,' Bielema continued. 'I want our program to be able to maintain continuity through the natural transition that takes place in coaching and that's what is happening here. '
Doeren, who will remain the Badgers' recruiting coordinator, has proven successful as a coach and recruiter. He has coached Mark Zalewski and Jonathan Casillas to honorable mention All-Big Ten honors at Wisconsin. Bostad, promoted to run game coordinator for 2007 (he'll keep that title), helped develop tight ends Travis Beckum (a John Mackey Award finalist and first-team All-American in 2007), Andy Crooks and Garrett Graham the past two seasons.
Bielema will now go about the business of hiring two new position coaches.
