Urban Meyer addresses Paul Chryst firing, where Wisconsin goes next

Urban Meyer couldn’t believe it when he heard that Paul Chryst was out as the Wisconsin football coach. The two faced off twice — including the 2017 Big Ten Championship — when Meyer was the head coach at Ohio State, and he always had respect for what Chryst built with the Badgers.

Speaking with Tim May on a recent episode of Urban’s Take, Meyer weighed in on the surprising decision from Wisconsin and why he thinks they have one of the best environments in the Big Ten.

“Colorado with Karl Dorrell and some of the other changes that you saw made, you understand,” Meyer began. “When this one came across, the respect I have for coach Chryst and Wisconsin — but I can see the same thing. I love to get up and watch these games on Sunday because I don’t get to watch them Saturday. You’re just like, ‘My Gosh.’ I think he was Coach of the Year a couple of times. I remember facing them at least twice in the Big Ten Championship game. You talk about just a rugged, tough, well-coached team and then all of a sudden you see Paul Chryst fired after winning 70-plus percent of his games. I believe he was 5-1 in bowl games or 6-1 in bowl games. Was in the Rose Bowl just a few years ago.

“But I told people, of all the places to go play — not that I like any of ’em because you’re trying to win — but Wisconsin, the environment, the fan base. I actually love the student body. They have a lot of fun with the opposing team and jump around in the environment there.”

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The Badgers have just a 2-7 record against ranked opponents over the past three seasons. They were also off to a 2-3 start this season that saw them lose to every Power 5 opponent they played. The offense struggled mightily, ranking 10th in the Big Ten overall and 12th in passing yards per game.

Now, the search to find Paul Chryst’s replacement is in full swing. Like many, Urban Meyer believes interim head coach Jim Leonhard to be the frontrunner.

“I wonder where they go,” Meyer said. “I think they really want to try to give it to Leonhard, the defensive coordinator. I think that’s kind of what we’re hearing. He’s one of their own. He’s a great football coach. They’ve got to get that thing going again.”

Leonhard will get his first opportunity to audition for the position at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday against Northwestern. But whoever ultimately becomes the next head coach, Urban Meyer knows they have an incredible opportunity at a place like Wisconsin.