Bret Bielema has yet to lead the Wisconsin Badgers football team on the field as head coach, but already he is carrying out the responsibilities of the position.
Bielema, who as defensive coordinator put together the virtuoso performance that limited high-powered Auburn to only 236 yards in the Capital One Bowl, selected three new assistant coaches for his staff over the past week.
Two defensive coordinators headline the hires. Most recently, Mike Hankwitz was selected to head the defense. Hankwitz will be joined by Dave Doeren, who will also assist with the linebackers.
Hankwitz, 58, last served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Colorado. Hankwitz, who has 36 years of coaching to his credit, won the national title as defensive coordinator with Colorado and has been on the sidelines for 15 bowl games.
'I am thrilled to be able to have a coach with Mike's background to run our defense,' Bielema said. 'He has been a key element in numerous successful programs and he has been the architect of some of college football's best defenses during the past 25 years. We are very fortunate that he will be bringing his experience and knowledge to Wisconsin.'
Doeren, who will join Hankwitz in coaching a defense that finished in the middle of the pack in most 2005 Big Ten statistical categories, comes to Madison after a stint as co-defensive coordinator at Kansas.
The 34-year-old helped orchestrate a defense last season that ranked No. 3 nationally in rushing defense and No. 11 in total defense. In 2002 he first joined Kansas as a linebackers coach and recruiter, but moved through the ranks quickly. Bielema praised Doeren as one of the country's bright, up-and-coming college football coaches.
'Dave is one of the top young coaches in the country,' Bielema said. 'The Kansas defense was highly rated in 2005 and Dave coordinated the signing of a very talented recruiting class there last year. He has a bright future ahead of him and I'm pleased it will be here at Wisconsin.'
Bielema, aware of the spotty play from the secondary last season, also named a new defensive backs coach. Kerry Cooks, who had the same position at the University of Minnesota last season, will fill that void.
Although Cooks has only been coaching since 2003, he has extensive experience in football. He played strong safety for Iowa for four seasons and was selected in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Cooks was a member of four teams before retiring in 2001.
'I have known Kerry for many years now and I'm very excited to have him join us at Wisconsin,' Bielema said. 'He exemplifies everything I want our staff to be about. He works hard, he's a great recruiter and coach, and he's a fantastic person on and off the field. I'm very happy he is a Badger.'
