<p> University of Wisconsin head football coach and athletic director Barry Alvarez, who transformed the Badgers football program into a national powerhouse, announced Thursday that he will step down from his coaching duties at the end of the 2005 season. Alvarez said that second-year defensive coordinator Bret Bielema, whom he called a "rising star," will replace him as head coach in January 2006. Alvarez will stay on as Wisconsin's athletic director. </p> <p> <a href="http://www.uwbadgers.com/sport_news/fb/headlines/full_story.aspx?story_id=2005_07_28_12_58_32_fb">Visit the UW Athletics Web site for more details</a>. </p> <h3 style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;"> Photos from the news conference </h3> <p style="font-size: .9em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Photos: <a href="mailto:%20photos@news.wisc.edu">Jeff Miller</a> </p><br style="clear: both;" /> <div style="float: left; width: 250px;"> <p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <img src="http://www.news.wisc.edu/news/images/Alvarez_Bielema_pc05_2044.jpg" alt="Photo of Barry Alvarez" width="233" height="350" border="1" /> </p> <p style="width: 233px; margin-top: 0px;"> During a news conference at the Kohl Center, Barry Alvarez announced his decision to step down from his position as head football coach at the end of the 2005 season. </p> </div> <div style="float: left; width: 250px;"> <p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <img src="http://www.news.wisc.edu/news/images/Alvarez_Bielema_pc05_2003.jpg" alt="Photo of Chancellor Wiley and Barry Alvarez" width="233" height="350" border="1" /> </p> <p style="width: 233px; margin-top: 0px;"> "I am honored, humbled and thrilled about this opportunity," says Bret Bielema, current assistant football coach who will become new head football coach beginning in 2006. </p> </div> <p style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <img src="http://www.news.wisc.edu/news/images/Alvarez_Bielema_pc05_1984.jpg" alt="Photo of Chancellor Wiley and Barry Alvarez" width="350" height="233" border="1" /> </p> <p style="width: 350px; margin-top: 0px;"> As Chancellor John D. Wiley looks on, Barry Alvarez talks about his decision to remain as athletic director, but have the 2005 football season be his last as head coach. </p> University of Wisconsin head football coach and athletic director Barry Alvarez, who transformed the Badgers football program into a national powerhouse, announced Thursday that he will step down from his coaching duties at the end of the 2005 season. Alvarez to leave coaching after 2005 football season 11371 2005-08-28T00:00:00-05:00 2005-07-28T00:00:00-05:00