Another Badger on way

Charlie Partridge, left, was hired as Arkansas' defensive line coach on Dec. 15, 2012. Partridge has served as co-defensive coordinator with Chris Ash. Ash was hired as the Razorbacks' defensive coordinator on Dec. 11.
Charlie Partridge, left, was hired as Arkansas' defensive line coach on Dec. 15, 2012. Partridge has served as co-defensive coordinator with Chris Ash. Ash was hired as the Razorbacks' defensive coordinator on Dec. 11.

— Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema continued adding to his first staff Saturday, announcing the addition of Charlie Partridge as his defensive line coach.

Partridge, who turned39 on Dec. 7, was thought to have had a spot available on the Arkansas staff since Bielema took the job Dec. 4. Partridge had been on Bielema’s staff at Wisconsin since 2008, coaching the defensive line and specialists for three years before being named associate head coach and co-coordinating the defense in 2011 with Chris Ash, who also has followed Bielema to Fayetteville.

Like Ash, Partridge has committed to remaining with the Badgers through the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. After this weekend, no recruiting contact is allowed through Jan. 2.

“I am excited to welcome Charlie to our staff here at Arkansas,” Bielema said through a university news release. “He brings a great amount of experience on the defensive side of the ball and in special teams, as well as a strong recruiting background in Florida.

“Charlie has been part of our staff for the last five years, and his knowledge of the way we run our program and specifically the defense will be valuable as we move forward in our transition. He will also be a key asset in developing our student-athletes.”

Partridge, who graduated from Drake University and received a master’s degree in education, was part of the Wisconsin staff’s three Big Ten championships and Rose Bowl appearances.

A native of Plantation, Fla., Partridge helped the Badgers pull in their share of talent from the fertile recruiting grounds of south Florida. The current Wisconsin roster lists 10 players from Florida, most of them skill athletes like defensive backs, receivers and running backs.

James White, the team’s second-leading rusher behind Montee Ball with 802 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, is from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Partridge was part of a Wisconsin defense that led the Big Ten and ranked No. 3 in the NCAA with a three-and out percentage of 41.72 percent this season. The Badgers ranked No. 13 in total defense and No. 19 in scoring defense in 2012.

Wisconsin had two players rank among the Big Ten’s top nine in sacks, with end Brendan Kelly tied for seventh with five sacks in 10 games and end Tyler Dippel tied for ninth with five sacks in 12 games.

Partridge is scheduled to participate in a teleconference this morning. He joins Ash, offensive coordinator Jim Chaney and offensive line coach Sam Pittman as coaches with confirmed spots on Bielema’s staff.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and the Wisconsin State Journal reported Saturday that Ash is considering whether to formally apply and interview with Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez for the head coaching spot Bielema left behind.

Alvarez, who is coaching the Badgers in the Rose Bowl, has reportedly gauged the interest of Boise State Coach Chris Petersen and Oregon State Coach Mike Riley in recent days.

Charlie Partridge glance

SCHOOL Arkansas POSITION Defensive line AGE 39 (born Dec. 7, 1973) HOMETOWN Plantation, Fla.

FAMILY Wife Julie, daughters Alexa and Kylee ALMA MATER Drake (secondary education, 1995); Iowa State (masters in education, 2002)

COACHING HISTORY Drake graduate assistant (1996-1997), Iowa State graduate assistant (1998-1999) and director of football operations (2000-2001), Eastern Illinois defensive line/recruiting coordinator (2002), Pittsburgh defensive line (2003-2005), defensive line/special teams (2006), linebackers/special teams (2007), Wisconsin defensive line/special teams (2008-2010), associate head coach/codefensive coordinator (2011-2012)

Sports, Pages 25 on 12/16/2012

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