Wisconsin and O-line coach AJ Blazek parting ways; UW set to hire Eric Mateos, according to reports
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MADISON — Wisconsin football will have at least one staffing change in 2026.
AJ Blazek is departing Luke Fickell’s staff after two years as the offensive line coach, multiple sources are reporting and a source close to the program confirmed to the Journal Sentinel.
The Badgers are expected to hire Eric Mateos to replace Blazek, according to reports by ESPN and 247 Sports. Mateos spent the last two seasons at Arkansas as the Razorbacks went 9-16 overall and 3-13 in SEC play. Mateos has past experience working with UW offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes at Baylor and BYU.
A UW team spokesman could not be immediately reached for comment on Blazek's departure or Mateos' expected hire.
The staffing change follows a 4-8 season for Wisconsin in which the offensive line often fell short of expectations. The Badgers were tied for 93rd in the country in sacks allowed and failed to surpass 100 rushing yards in any of their first three games against power-conference opponents.
The line struggled to maintain continuity as there were six different first-team configurations in the first six weeks. The Badgers started three redshirt freshmen on the line against Maryland. Davis Heinzen, who practiced as the first-team left tackle throughout fall camp, finished the season at center.
Blazek arrived at Wisconsin in 2024 after three seasons as the offensive line coach at Vanderbilt. Past coaching stops include North Dakota State, Rutgers, Western Illinois, Winona State and Fort Hays State. He also was a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Iowa, and received rave reviews from longtime Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz.
“He’s got a feel for people, certainly for the game and specifically what it entails to be a good lineman or a good line coach,” Ferentz said in a phone interview with the Journal Sentinel earlier this year. “And that’s not for everybody. That position is not for everybody. But it makes perfect sense for him.”
Blazek’s departure marks the third consecutive offseason with notable changes to the offensive coaching staff. UW fired offensive coordinator Phil Longo before the 2024 season ended and replaced him with Jeff Grimes. UW then shifted Kenny Guiton from wide receivers coach to quarterbacks coach and hired Jordan Reid for Guiton’s previous role.
Jack Bicknell Jr. was the UW offensive line coach for Fickell’s first season before moving out of that role, with Blazek replacing him.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UW, Blazek parting ways; Badgers to hire Mateos, according to reports
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