Paul Chryst fired: Who are the Badgers’ top coaching candidates?

5. Sean Lewis, Kent State head coach

Lewis is one Wisconsin alum who could be in consideration for the head-coaching gig, as he played tight end for the Badgers in the mid 2000s. Spending time as an assistant in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and later at Syracuse, Lewis returned to the MAC in 2018 as the head coach at Kent State. Lewis has produced a .500-or-better team each of the last three seasons, also helping the Golden Flashes to their first bowl win in program history in 2019. Like the Badgers, Kent State has started 2-3 this season, but they recently hung tough in a 39-22 loss to No. 1 Georgia. Lewis’ teams at Kent State have been known for good offense, something Wisconsin has sorely lacked over the past few seasons. The 36-year-old coach is more of a wild card than a serious candidate at this point, but he could emerge as a potential favorite for the job depending on how the rest of the season goes at Kent State.