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Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez closes out retirement speech with classic line

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

Published:

Barry Alvarez is leaving Wisconsin on a funny note.

OK, Alvarez isn’t retiring from his post as athletic director at Wisconsin today, but he did make the official announcement on Tuesday, saying his last day will be June 30, 2021. And when he gave his retirement speech, the AD and former head football coach had a fun way to conclude it.

“I’d like to announce that my retirement will take effect July 1,” Alvarez said. “But, I’m always available to come back out of retirement to coach in a bowl game. Thank you.”

After his 16-year career as the head coach of the Wisconsin football team came to an end in 2005, Alvarez was an interim head coach for the Badgers twice in bowl games.

Alvarez coached Wisconsin in the 2012 Rose Bowl after Bret Bielema took the head coaching job at Arkansas. The Badgers fell 20-14 to Stanford to close the year.

In 2014, Alvarez stepped in again for the postseason after Gary Andersen left Wisconsin to be the head coach at Oregon State. That game turned out much better for the head coach and the Badgers, defeating Auburn in overtime of the Outback Bowl 34-31.

Alvarez was the head coach at Wisconsin from 1990-2005, posting a 120-73-4 record, making 11 bowl trips (as a permanent head coach) and winning three B1G titles. He took over in an administrative role beginning in 2004.

That closing line from Alvarez is one that will be well received by everyone in Wisconsin.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB