Rumor mill swirls for Wisconsin DC Dave Aranda, and he's earned it
Dec 15, 2015
MADISON, Wis. -- Upperclassmen on Wisconsin's football team have endured the departures of two head coaches and the ensuing exodus of nearly entire assistant coaching staffs. They have come to understand that college football is run at the top like a business, even though many have struggled with feelings of hurt and betrayal that lingered well beyond a coach's final speech.
So the fact there are rumors about Badgers defensive coordinator Dave Aranda leaving for another job isn't very surprising, according to players. Instead, what stands out most is how prepared and accepting they are for the moment -- something that says just as much about Aranda as it does his players.
When Aranda leaves -- and there seems to be no "if" about that -- it will create one of the rare instances in which players will not feel resentment or animosity. Rather, they will experience a sense of gratitude for everything he has achieved in his three seasons in Madison.
"He's done some exceptional things," Badgers cornerback Sojourn Shelton said. "The players here, they want to play for him. He gets the players to believe in themselves. And even in some down times when players go through things, he's always there for you. That's the type of coach that he is. He's definitely done a great job. If he was to leave, I think we all can understand and respect him for that."
Dave Aranda has turned Wisconsin into one of the nation's stingiest defenses during his three seasons with the Badgers. Dan Sanger/Icon Sportswire
At this stage, Wisconsin's entire fanbase recognizes Aranda's window with the team could be closing given his incredible success. If he chooses to stay past this season, it wouldn't likely be for long. He has done everything he possibly could to raise the profile of the Badgers' defense. In the process, his personal profile is at an all-time high.
Under Aranda, Wisconsin has allowed an average of 16.8 points per game, which ranks No. 2 among FBS programs over his three seasons, behind only Alabama. Wisconsin ranks first nationally in total defense during that stretch. And this season, the Badgers have an opportunity to finish the season leading the country in scoring defense for only the third time in program history.
Aranda's name has been mentioned in connection with the vacant defensive coordinator position at USC under head coach Clay Helton. Wisconsin will play USC in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 30, and players can't escape rumors about what their beloved coach might do next.
"I came downstairs in the locker room and everybody was talking about the reports," Shelton said. "It was just like, man. But at the same time when you think about it for him, he's a West Coast guy. He's from that area. It'd be cool to get back to your roots and be around family and stuff like that. It's a decision that he's going to have to make."
Aranda, a California native, spoke with reporters Tuesday and didn't specifically address the USC rumors. He said his wife and three kids were comfortable and happy in Madison and praised the players and coaches at Wisconsin, noting, "You're fortunate to be in that type of spot. It's not always that way." For now, he is focused on his task with the Badgers rather than looking ahead.
"There's always going to be a time and a place for that," he said. "Fortunately, all that can be pushed back further because we've got a great bowl game to get ready for."
As much as Aranda enjoys the city and the football program, the fact is that no one stays a coordinator at Wisconsin -- or anywhere, for that matter -- forever. Four of Wisconsin's last five defensive coordinators are now FBS head coaches -- Bret Bielema (Arkansas), Dave Doeren (North Carolina State), Charlie Partridge (Florida Atlantic) and Chris Ash (Rutgers). Current Badgers coach Paul Chryst was the team's offensive coordinator before earning his first head coaching job.
When it was mentioned to Chryst that Aranda's success had created plenty of buzz in coaching circles, Chryst replied, "as it should." He said it was only natural for Aranda to be considered for jobs, "and well-deserved. I think that's how guys grow in the ranks."
Aranda has earned the opportunity to be selective about his next job. Would he leave for another defensive coordinator position in college or only a head coaching opportunity? Is he waiting for a chance in the NFL? Aranda interviewed last offseason for a defensive coaching position on Mike McCarthy's staff with the Green Bay Packers.
Many in town would love to see the athletics department retain Aranda. But it remains to be seen how much higher Wisconsin's financial ceiling can go. And even if it increases, that doesn't guarantee Aranda would stay.
According to USA Today's annual database of assistant coaching salaries in college football, Aranda's salary of $522,200 ranked him only 64th nationally among all assistants. He was 13th among Big Ten assistants and only sixth among defensive coordinators behind Michigan's D.J. Durkin ($880,000), Ohio State co-defensive coordinators Luke Fickell ($640,000) and Ash ($580,000), Minnesota's Tracy Claeys ($616,000) and Nebraska's Mark Banker ($550,000). Durkin, Ash and Claeys all earned head coaching jobs in the past month.
Without question, Wisconsin is on borrowed time with Aranda. Players can only hope to borrow a little more.
"I want him to stay here," Badgers linebacker Vince Biegel said. "I think everybody in this building wants him to stay here. And I know the guys upstairs are doing everything in their power to make that happen."
Dec 15, 2015
MADISON, Wis. -- Upperclassmen on Wisconsin's football team have endured the departures of two head coaches and the ensuing exodus of nearly entire assistant coaching staffs. They have come to understand that college football is run at the top like a business, even though many have struggled with feelings of hurt and betrayal that lingered well beyond a coach's final speech.
So the fact there are rumors about Badgers defensive coordinator Dave Aranda leaving for another job isn't very surprising, according to players. Instead, what stands out most is how prepared and accepting they are for the moment -- something that says just as much about Aranda as it does his players.
When Aranda leaves -- and there seems to be no "if" about that -- it will create one of the rare instances in which players will not feel resentment or animosity. Rather, they will experience a sense of gratitude for everything he has achieved in his three seasons in Madison.
"He's done some exceptional things," Badgers cornerback Sojourn Shelton said. "The players here, they want to play for him. He gets the players to believe in themselves. And even in some down times when players go through things, he's always there for you. That's the type of coach that he is. He's definitely done a great job. If he was to leave, I think we all can understand and respect him for that."
Dave Aranda has turned Wisconsin into one of the nation's stingiest defenses during his three seasons with the Badgers. Dan Sanger/Icon Sportswire
At this stage, Wisconsin's entire fanbase recognizes Aranda's window with the team could be closing given his incredible success. If he chooses to stay past this season, it wouldn't likely be for long. He has done everything he possibly could to raise the profile of the Badgers' defense. In the process, his personal profile is at an all-time high.
Under Aranda, Wisconsin has allowed an average of 16.8 points per game, which ranks No. 2 among FBS programs over his three seasons, behind only Alabama. Wisconsin ranks first nationally in total defense during that stretch. And this season, the Badgers have an opportunity to finish the season leading the country in scoring defense for only the third time in program history.
Aranda's name has been mentioned in connection with the vacant defensive coordinator position at USC under head coach Clay Helton. Wisconsin will play USC in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 30, and players can't escape rumors about what their beloved coach might do next.
"I came downstairs in the locker room and everybody was talking about the reports," Shelton said. "It was just like, man. But at the same time when you think about it for him, he's a West Coast guy. He's from that area. It'd be cool to get back to your roots and be around family and stuff like that. It's a decision that he's going to have to make."
Aranda, a California native, spoke with reporters Tuesday and didn't specifically address the USC rumors. He said his wife and three kids were comfortable and happy in Madison and praised the players and coaches at Wisconsin, noting, "You're fortunate to be in that type of spot. It's not always that way." For now, he is focused on his task with the Badgers rather than looking ahead.
"There's always going to be a time and a place for that," he said. "Fortunately, all that can be pushed back further because we've got a great bowl game to get ready for."
As much as Aranda enjoys the city and the football program, the fact is that no one stays a coordinator at Wisconsin -- or anywhere, for that matter -- forever. Four of Wisconsin's last five defensive coordinators are now FBS head coaches -- Bret Bielema (Arkansas), Dave Doeren (North Carolina State), Charlie Partridge (Florida Atlantic) and Chris Ash (Rutgers). Current Badgers coach Paul Chryst was the team's offensive coordinator before earning his first head coaching job.
When it was mentioned to Chryst that Aranda's success had created plenty of buzz in coaching circles, Chryst replied, "as it should." He said it was only natural for Aranda to be considered for jobs, "and well-deserved. I think that's how guys grow in the ranks."
Aranda has earned the opportunity to be selective about his next job. Would he leave for another defensive coordinator position in college or only a head coaching opportunity? Is he waiting for a chance in the NFL? Aranda interviewed last offseason for a defensive coaching position on Mike McCarthy's staff with the Green Bay Packers.
Many in town would love to see the athletics department retain Aranda. But it remains to be seen how much higher Wisconsin's financial ceiling can go. And even if it increases, that doesn't guarantee Aranda would stay.
According to USA Today's annual database of assistant coaching salaries in college football, Aranda's salary of $522,200 ranked him only 64th nationally among all assistants. He was 13th among Big Ten assistants and only sixth among defensive coordinators behind Michigan's D.J. Durkin ($880,000), Ohio State co-defensive coordinators Luke Fickell ($640,000) and Ash ($580,000), Minnesota's Tracy Claeys ($616,000) and Nebraska's Mark Banker ($550,000). Durkin, Ash and Claeys all earned head coaching jobs in the past month.
Without question, Wisconsin is on borrowed time with Aranda. Players can only hope to borrow a little more.
"I want him to stay here," Badgers linebacker Vince Biegel said. "I think everybody in this building wants him to stay here. And I know the guys upstairs are doing everything in their power to make that happen."
