Bostad's O Line Puts Badgers On Top In Big Ten In Rushing Offense

Bob Bostad (pronounced BO-stad) is in his third season as an assistant coach at Wisconsin. He was named run game coordinator in February of 2007 and also became the Badgers’ offensive line coach in January of 2008 after coaching tight ends his first two seasons.

Last season Bostad helped guide a running game that amassed 2,610 yards for an average of 200.8 per game that ranked second in the Big Ten. Wisconsin tied for the conference lead with 29 rushing touchdowns. Sophomore P.J. Hill registered his second consecutive 1,000-yard campaign, while sophomore Lance Smith and freshman Zach Brown combined to rush for 997 yards.

In addition, Bostad-coached tight ends Travis Beckum and Garrett Graham who were the Badgers’ leading receivers. Beckum, who accumulated 982 yards on a school record-tying 75 receptions (both new records for a UW tight end), was a finalist for the John Mackey Award and a first-team All-American. Graham put up career highs of 30 catches for 328 yards and four TDs.

For 2008 behind the offensive line, the Badgers ranked #1 in the conference in rushing offense gaining 2,544 yards, averaging 212 yards a game, and scoring 31 TDs on the ground. Bostad had the number 6 and number 7 ranked running backs in the conference in 2008. Junior P.J. Hill has rushed for 1,021 yards and 13 TDs while freshman John Clay has 845 rushing yards and 9 TDs.

Earlier in 2008 Bostad had said that Clay was a back who ".... doesn’t fully understand protections as well as we want, but he’s a hard-nosed, downhill runner who will surprise you with how fast he is and how sudden he is." He added that "The sky is the limit for him.” Apparently with Bostad's coaching and Clays' natural ability he has become a real threat at back for the Badgers.

Prior to coming to Wisconsin, Bostad coached the offensive line at New Mexico from 1999-2005.