Wisconsin interested in retaining coaches

Charlie Partridge was named Arkansas' defensive line coach, becoming the third Wisconsin coach to join the Razorbacks' staff this off-season.

— The Wisconsin State Journal, citing a source close to the Wisconsin football program, reported Wednesday that Wisconsin officials would like to try to retain co-defensive coordinator Charlie Partridge and strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert.

Partridge and Herbert have been hired by Bret Bielema, the former Wisconsin coach who left to take the Arkansas job.

Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez hired Coach Gary Andersen from Utah State as his head coachon Tuesday, and the newspaper reported that Alvarez would like to keep Herbert and Partridge on the Badgers staff.

Partridge signed an offer letter from Arkansas on Dec. 14 that stipulated he would owe a $50,000 buyout if he chose to leave the Razorbacks. Partridge’s term of employment is set to begin Jan. 2, 2013, and it isn’t known if Arkansas would enforce the buyout if Partridge elected to stay in Wisconsin.

Sports, Pages 23 on 12/20/2012