Justin Wilcox is finalizing terms to become Wisconsin's defensive coordinator, sources told FootballScoop Wednesday. Wilcox spent the past two seasons as the defensive coordinator at USC.
This is a hire that has been in the works for a while. Wilcox has made multiple visits to Madison, including a meeting with the entire defensive staff. Additionally, the Badgers' 247 site reports Wilcox is on the trail for Wisconsin right now.
Wilcox, still only 39, holds coordinator experience at Boise State, Tennessee, Washington and USC. After playing defensive back at Oregon and a brief stay in the NFL, Wilcox jumped into coaching as a graduate assistant at Boise State, then spent three seasons coaching linebackers at California before returning to Boise under Chris Petersen.
At Wisconsin, Wilcox would inherit one of the most well-rounded defenses in college football. The Badgers finished the 2015 season ranked second nationally in total defense, fourth in yards per play allowed, fourth in rushing defense, second in pass efficiency defense and first in scoring defense.
Wilcox takes over for Dave Aranda, who left for LSU shortly after Wisconsin topped Wilcox's Trojans in the Holiday Bowl.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.