MADISON, Wis. — Following up a nine-year NFL career by building a coaching resume that includes mentoring a trio of All-Americans, Alvis Whitted brings a proven track record to the Wisconsin football program.
Whitted joined the Badgers as wide receivers coach on Wednesday, completing head coach Paul Chryst's staff for the 2020 season.
"We're excited to add Alvis to our staff," Chryst said. "What he's done as a coach and his experience as a player obviously stood out, but as we went through the process and got to know more about him and who he is, the more impressed we were. It became clear that he made a big impact on the coaches and players he's been around, and I'm excited for him to have the opportunity to help our players continue to grow."
"This program is first-class in every way an I'm thrilled to be part of it," Whitted said. "From my first conversation with Coach Chryst, it just felt right. He's a down-to-earth, genuine guy who comes so well-regarded in our profession. Then, when I had the opportunity to talk to the players, I knew it was the right fit.
"I'm excited to be back in college and making an impact on young men's lives. I can't wait to get going. I'm ready to get to work."
Whitted comes to Madison after serving as wide receivers coach for the Green Bay Packers in 2019. He mentored a group headlined by Pro Bowl pick Davante Adams — who set franchise playoff records with his 160-yard, two-touchdown performance in an NFC Divisional Round win over Seattle — while helping lead second-year pros Allen Lazard and Jake Kumerow, both former undrafted free agents, to breakout seasons.
The move to Green Bay followed Whitted's highly-successful stint in the same role at Colorado State. His seven seasons with the Rams were highlighted by his development of a pair of consensus first-team All-Americans and Biletnikoff Award finalists in receivers Rashard Higgins and Michael Gallup.
Gallup, who went on to be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, caught 100 passes for 1,418 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior in 2017 on his way to consensus All-America accolades. That came on the heels of a junior season in which he made 76 catches for 1,272 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Gallup followed in the footsteps of Higgins, who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns following a career that saw him become the Rams' all-time leading receiver. Higgins was a Biletnikoff finalist and consensus All-American as a sophomore in 2014, when he led the nation in receiving yards (1,750) and touchdowns (17) on 96 receptions. He recorded 10 games with at least 100 receiving yards that season.
Higgins had another 1,000-yard season in 2015 and finished his career with 238 catches for 3,648 yards and 31 TDs.
Players coached by Whitted are responsible for the top three seasons by a receiver in Colorado State history, with Higgins and Gallup joined by Preston Williams. Williams' 1,345-yard, 14-touchdown season in 2018 earned him second-team All-America honors. He now plays for the Miami Dolphins. The Rams' second-leading receiver in 2018, Olabisi Johnson, also made an impact as an NFL rookie with the Minnesota Vikings in 2019.
Whitted joined the staff at Colorado State in 2012 after spending a year as an offensive quality control assistant under Rick Neuheisel at UCLA in 2011. Whitted served as wide receivers coach at Division III Millsaps College in 2010 after getting his start in coaching as an assistant at his alma mater, Orange High School in Hillsborough, North Carolina, from 2008-09.
"I like to lead by example, teach, build relationships and earn trust," Whitted said of his coaching style. "It is a privilege to play this game and all I want for my players is to play for each other and play for something bigger than themselves, which is the team."
His move to coaching followed a nine-year NFL career that began when he was selected by Jacksonville in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He later played for the Atlanta Falcons in 2001 and the Oakland Raiders from 2002-06.
Whitted played in 122 NFL games and made 24 starts, catching 74 passes for 1,030 yards and six touchdowns. He also returned kicks — including a 98-yard return for a touchdown in 1999 — and was a special teams standout. Whitted played in two AFC championship games and helped the Raiders reach Super Bowl XXXVII in 2002.
A multi-sport star at N.C. State, Whitted starred as a return specialist for the Wolfpack and racked up 1,929 kickoff return yards to rank No. 2 in school history at the time of his graduation.
On the track, he was a two-time All-American and five-time Atlantic Coast Conference champion, twice being named ACC Most Valuable Performer. A fantastic sprinter, Whitted set school records in the 100, 200 and 400 meters — and still holds the Wolfpack's all-time mark in the 100, at 10.02 seconds.
Whitted finished sixth in the 200 meters at the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials, competing in the final with American greats Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson, who set a world record in the race.
A native of Durham, North Carolina, Whitted graduated from N.C. State in 1998 with a degree in business management/finance. He and his wife, Tracy, have a daughter, Remy.
