Barry Alvarez will coach Wisconsin in Rose Bowl

Barry Alvarez will coach Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. (Jeff Gross, Getty Images)

Barry Alvarez will make a dramatic return to coaching, after agreeing to take charge of the Wisconsin Badgers for their appearance in the Rose Bowl.

Former Badgers coach Bret Bielma announced he would be leaving the team yesterday, leaving his status for the Rose Bowl in doubt. According to a report in the Madison State Journal, Badgers football team captains approached Wisconsin Athletic Director Alvarez requesting that he coach the team in the bowl game – an offer Alvarez accepted.

Alvarez previously coached Wisconsin football for 15 years before leaving to become Athletic Director in 2005. The Badgers won three Rose Bowls in that span.