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Bollinger likely Chryst's next hire at Pitt
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New Pitt football coach Paul Chryst has two openings on his coaching staff due to recent defections, but it appears as if he is close to filling at least one of them as former Wisconsin quarterback Brooks Bollinger has emerged as the leading candidate to become the Panthers quarterbacks coach.
Bollinger played at Wisconsin from 2000-03 and had a record of 30-12 as a starter and led the Badgers to three bowl victories, including the 2000-01 Rose Bowl.
He was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the '03 NFL draft and played seven seasons in the NFL with them as well as the Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions before playing two seasons in the UFL with the Florida Tuskers. He led the Tuskers to the 2009 UFL championship game and was named the league's MVP.
He retired as a player after the '10 UFL season and accepted a job as head coach/offensive coordinator at Hill Murray High School in suburban St. Paul, Minn., which is his current post.
As of Wednesday, Bollinger had not officially signed a contract with Pitt, but, according to one source, barring any last minute snags or changes, he is expected to be named quarterbacks coach in the next few days.
Chryst, the offensive coordinator at Wisconsin before coming to Pitt, never coached Bollinger, but he was the tight ends coach for the Badgers in'02, when Bollinger was the starting quarterback.
With the quarterbacks coach spot likely filled, Chryst has one assistant coaching position to fill -- running backs coach.
First Published February 23, 2012 12:00 am
