MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin football officially announced the hiring of new offensive line coach AJ Blazek on Wednesday afternoon. Blazek, who spent the past three seasons in the same role at Vanderbilt, returns to the Big Ten having played at Iowa from 1999 to 2000 and coached at Rutgers from 2016 to 2018.
 
"We're thankful to have AJ joining our staff," said head coach Luke Fickell. "He has a track record of success across college football. AJ brings a familiarity of playing in the Big Ten, as well as recruiting experience in traditional Big Ten areas, to our program." 
 
Blazek, a Wichita, Kan., native, joins the Badgers' staff after a handful of successful stops across the nation as an offensive line coach. Eight active NFL linemen have been coached by Blazek during his stops at Rutgers, North Dakota State and Vanderbilt.
 
"I can't wait to get to work with Coach Fickell and his staff in Madison," said Blazek. "I've admired the program from afar for a long time and I'm honored to be leading a unit that has such rich history at Wisconsin."
 
After breaking into the Big Ten in 2016 as the offensive line coach at Rutgers, Blazek made a stop at North Dakota State from 2019-2020 in a stint that included an FCS national title in 2019. Under Blazek's direction, the Bison offensive line helped NDSU rush for 4,601 yards, a school record. After the COVID-shortened 2020 season in Fargo, N.D., Blazek moved on to Vanderbilt to begin 2021.
 
Blazek worked as the offensive line coach and the run game coordinator for Western Illinois from 2013-15. In each season the Leathernecks had a 1,000-yard rusher and an All-Missouri Valley Football Conference offensive line selection.
 
Prior to arriving at Western Illinois, Blazek had a four-year stint at Winona State (2009-12) in Minnesota. He worked with the offensive line and tight ends and was the co-offensive coordinator in his final three seasons with the Warriors. Blazek was named the 2012 Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.
 
Before joining Winona State, Blazek was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Fort Hays State (2005-08) in Kansas. He coached five offensive linemen to all-conference honors and one ESPN Academic All-American, Jordan Stricker in 2008.
 
Blazek began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Iowa. He coached for four seasons (2001-04), the first year as a student assistant before becoming a graduate assistant coach.
 
Following his All-America and Academic All-America playing career at Butler Community College, Blazek was a two-year letter winner at center for the Hawkeyes. He earned All-Big Ten Conference honors in 2000 and was a co-captain during that 2000 season. He earned Academic All-Big Ten Conference honors twice.
 
"I'm thrilled to get back into the Big Ten and be part of a program that has a strong history of success," said Blazek. "With a new era of the conference beginning next season, this opportunity with the Badgers is extremely exciting for me and my family."