What does Wisconsin coaching history show?
Wisconsin coaching history on this page spans 34 tracked head coaches, led by Barry Alvarez with 117 wins from 1990-2005.
Program history
Wisconsin Football History
Program history, coaching eras, title years, and signature seasons.
Camp Randall Stadium • Madison • WI
Big TenCamp Randall Stadium
Seasons Indexed
135
All-Time Wins
746
Winning Seasons
63%
Last 10 Win %
60.4%
History guide
Wisconsin program history explained
This history tab puts Wisconsin into a longer program timeline: season records, winning and losing streaks, coaching-era context, title references, playoff runs, and decade-level performance.
The current dataset includes 135 indexed seasons, and 34 coaching tenures. Use the national record links to compare the program against broader college football leaderboards.
Program History
Explore the program's most dominant seasons, toughest stretches, and era-by-era trends.
Use the snapshot to scan program-wide benchmarks, standout seasons, and decade-level performance trends.
Total Wins
746
Across 135 seasons
Winning Seasons
63%
Share of winning records
Average Record
5.5-3.9
Per season
Last 10 Seasons
60.4%
Win rate since 2026
Signature Season
2017
13-1 (92.9% win rate)
Toughest Season
1968
0-10 (0.0% win rate)
Peak Seasons
Most wins in program history
Highlights the seasons that produced the biggest win totals for the program.
| Year | Record | Win % |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 13-1 | 92.9% |
| 2006 | 12-1 | 92.3% |
| 1998 | 11-1 | 91.7% |
| 2010 | 11-2 | 84.6% |
| 2016 | 11-3 | 78.6% |
Challenging Seasons
Years that tested the fan base
Surfaces the seasons with the heaviest loss totals and weakest win rates.
| Year | Record | Win % |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 0-10 | 0.0% |
| 1990 | 1-10 | 9.1% |
| 1988 | 1-10 | 9.1% |
| 1967 | 0-9-1 | 5.0% |
| 1943 | 1-9 | 10.0% |
Era Performance
Win rate by decade
Buckets every season into decade groups so long-run rises and dips are easier to spot.
| Decade | Record | Win % |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 36-34 | 51.4% |
| 2010s | 102-34 | 75.0% |
| 2000s | 86-43 | 66.7% |
| 1990s | 69-45-4 | 60.2% |
| 1980s | 46-67-1 | 40.8% |
| 1970s | 46-58-5 | 44.5% |
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