UW football head coach Gary Andersen to leave for Oregon State University

Andersen made announcement to team Wednesday afternoon

MADISON, Wis. — A statement from Wisconsin Athletics announced Wednesday that head coach Gary Andersen will be leaving Wisconsin and taking the head coaching job at Oregon State University.

Andersen told the football team at a team meeting at 4 p.m., according to the release.

Reaction from Badger athletes on Twitter

“I received a call from Coach Andersen who made me aware that he was resigning and had accepted the head coaching job at Oregon State,” UW Director of Athletics Barry Alvarez said. “I was very surprised.”

Alvarez said he will immediately start a national search for a new head football coach.

“I began working to find a new head coach as soon as I spoke with Gary this morning,” Alvarez said in the release. “My first concern is taking care of the players on the current team, especially the senior class, and ensuring that their bowl experience is a memorable one. I will find a head coach to uphold the great tradition at Wisconsin, someone who is committed to excellence both on and off the field.”

“I want to thank Gary for his two years here and commend him on the way his team performed on the field, in the classroom and in the community. I wish him the best at Oregon State,” Alvarez said.

“First and foremost I want to thank Coach Alvarez for the opportunity to coach at the University of Wisconsin,” Andersen said in the release. “I also want to thank my staff and the people at UW. We worked very hard together and accomplished some great things. I had the opportunity to meet and coach some great young men and I look forward to watching them as they continue their careers and move through life.”

UW Chancellor Rebecca Blank also released a statement Wednesday.

“We wish Gary Andersen well at Oregon State University and thank him for his service to our student-athletes, the campus community and the State of Wisconsin,” Blank said. “I look forward to working with Barry Alvarez as he selects the next coach of the Wisconsin Badgers.”

Andersen was the head coach at Wisconsin for two years, and ended with a record of 19-7 overall and 13-3 in the Big Ten Conference.