AP source: Chryst meeting with Wisconsin officials

PITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh coach Paul Chryst is moving closer to taking the coaching job at Wisconsin.

Chryst traveled to Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesday to meet with university officials about replacing Gary Andersen, a person with direct knowledge of situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the meeting had not been announced.

Andersen abruptly left the Badgers for Oregon State last week after just two seasons on the job, leaving the same day Heisman Trophy finalist Melvin Gordon said he would skip his senior year to enter the NFL draft.

Chryst, a former player and offensive coordinator at Wisconsin, is 19-19 in three seasons with the Panthers. He interviewed with Badgers athletic director Barry Alvarez about the vacancy last week but said Monday he was awaiting a final decision.

University of Wisconsin regents planned to meet late Wednesday afternoon in closed session to consider employment terms for a new football coach, according to a meeting notice released Tuesday. State laws prevent the school from making a hire before that meeting, scheduled for 5 p.m.

Chryst attended practice with the Panthers on Tuesday before heading to Wisconsin for what looks like a homecoming. He is a Madison native, played quarterback for the Badgers in the 1980s and was part of the Wisconsin staff from 2005-11, helping the school to five double-digit victory seasons and two Rose Bowls.

Chryst leaving Pitt would put the Panthers on the market for a football coach for the fourth time since Dave Wannstedt was let go after the 2010 season.

Pitt approached Chryst about an extension before this season, but details were never finalized.

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AP writer Todd Richmond and College Football Writer Ralph Russo contributed to this report.