Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen unhappy with Jay Boulware’s departure for Oklahoma

First-year Oklahoma special teams coordinator Jay Boulware wouldn't be in favor of eliminating kickoffs from the game. PHOTO PROVIDED

NORMAN — Jay Boulware’s brief stay in Wisconsin didn’t sit well with Badgers coach Gary Andersen.

Boulware, who spent the last four seasons at Auburn, was hired in January to coach Wisconsin tight ends and special teams.

Last week, though, he accepted the same position at Oklahoma.

Andersen, the former Utah State coach who is beginning his first season at Wisconsin, met with reporters Monday for his pre-spring news conference.

“It’s upsetting,” Andersen said, according to this ESPN.com report. “I brought the wrong guy in here. … I don’t like the timing of it. I don’t like the situation at all.”

Andersen said he was surprised by Boulware’s departure, and said he only learned of it hours before OU made it official Friday.

“I failed the kids in this situation,” Andersen said. “It’s important. We talked about building a family environment.”

When asked if Boulware gave an explanation, Andersen said, “Jay’s got his world. I don’t want to get — I don’t want to start all that stuff. I’ll probably say something I shouldn’t say.”

Boulware, 40, was born in Oklahoma City and was a Texas offensive lineman in the early 1990s. His coaching career began at his alma mater as a graduate assistant.

He’s also coached at Northern Illinois, Arizona, Stanford, Utah and Iowa State. He followed head coach Gene Chizik from Iowa State to Auburn, where he was part of the Tigers’ 2010 undefeated, national championship squad.