MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Jack Del Rio, the former NFL head coach, has resigned from his position on Wisconsin’s coaching staff after being arrested for driving under the influence near the university campus last week.
Del Rio, who previously served as head coach for teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders, joined the University of Wisconsin in August as a senior adviser to head coach Luke Fickell. In a statement, Del Rio expressed gratitude for the opportunity: “I’m grateful to Coach Fickell and the University of Wisconsin for the chance to work with such a talented group of coaches and some of the best young football players in the country. I have decided to step away from my position with the team, so they can focus all their attention on the remainder of the season.”
The arrest occurred early Friday morning; Madison police reported that Del Rio was involved in an incident where his vehicle hit a stop sign and damaged a fence before coming to a stop in a yard. When officers arrived at around 12:35 a.m., they found Del Rio walking away from the scene and exhibiting signs of impairment. He was subsequently arrested for a first-offense operating while intoxicated (OWI).
“It’s a tough situation. Decisions that all of us have to be able to take full responsibility for. So that’s what Jack will do, and we’ll continue to move forward,” commented Coach Fickell regarding Del Rio’s resignation.
The 61-year-old coach had been part of Wisconsin’s staff for just a few months after spending the last four years as the defensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders, where he was let go partway through the 2023 season.
Del Rio’s coaching career in the NFL spans over 12 years, during which he achieved a record of 93 wins and 94 losses. His coaching journey included head coaching roles at the Jaguars from 2003 to 2011 and the Raiders from 2015 to 2017. Before his coaching days, Del Rio had a successful playing career as a linebacker in the NFL from 1985 to 1995, after excelling at the collegiate level at Southern California.
Currently, Wisconsin holds a record of 5-4 and stands at 3-3 in Big Ten conference play, having lost their last two games. They are preparing to face top-ranked Oregon this Saturday at home.
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