Dave Aranda back as Wisconsin defensive coordinator

Published Jan. 13, 2015 9:15 p.m. ET

foxsports

MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst has retained Dave Aranda to oversee the defense and brought Joe Rudolph back to the Badgers as associate head coach and offensive coordinator.

The long-rumored moves were announced Tuesday by Chryst, the former Pittsburgh head coach who returned to his alma mater to take the same position.

Rudolph was offensive coordinator for three years at Pitt under Chryst. Rudolph will also oversee the offensive line with the Badgers.

Aranda returns after two years as defensive coordinator for coach Gary Andersen, who left in December to take the head coaching job at Oregon State.

Wisconsin has allowed 299.4 yards per game under Aranda the last two seasons, the third-best mark among major college programs behind Louisville and Michigan State.

Chryst said he spoke to Aranda first after getting the Wisconsin job last month. Aranda successfully installed a 3-4 defense in Madison.

''He is able to identify the strengths of his players and play to those strengths, which I think is the mark of a good coach,'' Chryst said. ''When Dave expressed a great interest in staying, I was excited because I believe it is a great fit.''

Rudolph was previously a tight ends coach at Wisconsin from 2008-11, when Chryst was offensive coordinator. Rudolph followed Chryst to Pitt, and the Panthers in 2014 were third in the ACC in total offense at 435.4 yards per game. The offense featured league player of the year James Conner, who ran for an ACC-record 26 touchdowns.