MADISON (WITI) -- A University of Wisconsin official tells The Associated Press that athletic director Barry Alvarez will coach the Badgers in the Outback Bowl against Auburn on Jan. 1.
The move was confirmed by the official who spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because he was not authorized to release the information.
Alvarez is replacing Gary Andersen, who abruptly accepted the job as Oregon State coach on Wednesday. Alvarez coached the Badgers for 16 years before taking the athletic director's job. He retired following a 24-10 victory against Auburn in the 2006 Capital One Bowl.
Alvarez also was pressed back into service to coach the Badgers in a loss to Stanford in the 2013 Rose Bowl after Bret Bielema left for the Arkansas coaching job.