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

3. Dave Aranda, Baylor head coach

While the first two candidates on the list would come over with offensive backgrounds, Aranda would add to a defensive emphasis Wisconsin has had since Aranda himself was defensive coordinator of the Badgers from 2013-15, spending two years under Andersen and one under Chryst. After spending four years as associate head coach, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at LSU, Aranda was hired by Baylor to rebuild a program that had hit rock bottom following the Art Briles saga. In just his second season last year, Aranda led the Bears to a 12-2 record, Big 12 championship and win in the Sugar Bowl. Baylor is off to a 3-2 start this season with losses to ranked opponents in BYU and Oklahoma State thus far. Although the Gary Andersen era at Wisconsin was not all that successful, a positive to come out of it was Aranda, and it would not be surprising to see the Badgers have interest in bringing him back to Madison.