He is amazing. I think one of his greatest strengths is utilizing his players,"" senior tight end Andy Crooks said.
""One of the best coaches I have ever been around,"" senior center Marcus Coleman added.
Anytime Badger football players issue remarks like this about a coach, most fans widely believe that they are referring to head coach Bret Bielema. In this instance, however, the compliments are being directed at offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Paul Chryst, a man with a rich tradition in coaching, who has established Wisconsin's offense as one of the premiere units in the country.
Chryst's family has impressive football credentials. His father, George Chryst, was a longtime Badgers assistant and became the head coach for University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1984. Currently, his brother, Rick, is commissioner of the Mid-American Conference, and his other brother, Geep, works in the National Football League with the Carolina Panthers.
""We've all kind of been fortunate to have good jobs and be around and stay in this business,"" Chryst said.
After bouncing around from various stops early on in his coaching career, Chryst began a three-year stint in the NFL as the tight end coach for San Diego in 1999. One of the greatest testaments to Chryst's coaching ability with the Chargers was his development of Freddie Jones into one of the top tight ends in the league. He also worked closely with backup tight end Steve Heiden.
Over the years, Chryst developed several other high-caliber tight ends at Wisconsin including Owen Daniels, currently a starter for the Houston Texans, and junior tight end Travis Beckum.
""We've been lucky to have good tight ends, therefore we use them,"" Chryst said. ""I'm not sure what came first, the chicken or the egg there, but if you got good players, you use them.""
Chryst left the Chargers after the 2001 season and returned back home to Madison as the tight ends coach in 2002. After that season, however, he decided to return to Oregon State for two years as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.
""As a coach, you just kind of take advantage of opportunities you get, and I had some great opportunities away from here,"" Chryst said.
Out west, he showed off his coaching ability to the rest of the Pac 10 as the Beavers finished the 2003 season ranked in the top 10 in passing yards per game and total offense. Furthermore, that season the Beavers became the first team ever in Division 1-A to have a 4,000- yard passer, 1,500-yard rusher and a pair of 1,000-yard receivers.
Chryst returned to the Badgers in 2005 as the team's co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach. His impact was felt immediately as Wisconsin set school records in points scored and season scoring average. Quarterback John Stocco showed remarkable improvement with Chryst's return, setting school records in touchdown passes, pass completions and passing yards.
Chryst became the team's fulltime offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2006 as the Badgers completed the most successful season in team history. Most impressively, he rebuilt an offense that lost five seniors to the NFL draft and several others to graduation.
""One of his greatest strengths is utilizing his players,"" Crooks said. ""He knows his players' strengths and weaknesses and puts them in a position to succeed.""
The 2007 season brought a new set of challenges to Chryst as he rebuilt an offense that lost Stocco and Joe Thomas, the nation's top offensive lineman the previous year. Senior quarterback Tyler Donovan has stepped in to fill the void while the offense has battled numerous injuries to key players. Younger players such as freshman wide receivers Kyle Jefferson and David Gilreath have been thrown into more prominent roles and have stepped up.
""He always puts his players in the position to be successful,"" Coleman said.
Crooks attributes much of Chryst's success to the balance he strikes in the locker room.
""He's real laid back, real easy to talk to,"" Crooks said. ""At the same time, if you mess something up, he's going to let you know. Guys respect him for that.""
Chryst's resume speaks for itself in showing that he is one of the best in the country when it comes to working with players and getting the most out of the talent given to him. Over his time at Wisconsin, he has molded the offense into one of the toughest in the Big 10 Conference.
""He brings out the best in all of his players,"" Coleman said. ""I can't say enough about him.
