Wisconsin hires Canada as offensive coordinator

Published Jan. 17, 2012 5:16 p.m. ET

foxsports

Wisconsin has hired Matt Canada to be the team's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

He replaces Paul Chryst, who left to become the head coach at Pittsburgh.

Canada spent last season in the same role at Northern Illinois, helping the Huskies to an 11-3 record, a MAC championship and a victory in the GoDaddy.com Bowl. Badgers coach Bret Bielema says Canada excels at developing quarterbacks and is ''very excited'' about running a pro-style offense with the Badgers.

Under Canada's direction, Northern Illinois finished among the top 12 in the country in scoring offense, total offense and rushing offense last season.

Last year marked Canada's second stint with Northern Illinois. Before that, Canada had spent the last seven years at Indiana.