Field at Camp Randall Stadium to be named for Barry Alvarez

Beginning with the 2022 season, the field at Camp Randall Stadium will be named for legendary former Wisconsin football coach and director of athletics Barry Alvarez, UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank announced at a ceremony held Oct. 1 at Camp Randall.

“Barry Alvarez has had an immeasurable impact on the UW-Madison campus, beyond in the state and in college sports,” Blank said during the ceremony. “And that type of career deserves recognition at the very highest level.

“I am proud to announce that in conjunction with a major fundraising campaign that has raised over $13 million from some of our university’s best friends, beginning in the 2022 season this football field where we are currently standing will be known as ‘Barry Alvarez Field’ at Camp Randall Stadium.”

After 32 years at the University of Wisconsin, including the final 18 as the director of athletics, Alvarez officially retired on June 30 ending a legendary career in Madison.

Wisconsin athletics has been transformed since Alvarez’s arrival as the head football coach in January 1990. What was once a department that was in debt and struggling for fan support and to compete in the Big Ten is now a nationally-recognized brand with broad-based success and a legendary following.

At the heart of that revival has been the football program. During Alvarez’s tenure in Madison, the UW football team has played in 26 bowl games (including a Big Ten-best 19 straight) and won six Big Ten titles.

One of just 16 football coaches in Big Ten history to win at least 100 games at one school, Alvarez retired from coaching after the 2005 season as Wisconsin’s all-time winningest coach with a record of 119-74-4. He led the Badgers to three Big Ten titles and three Rose Bowl victories.

Alvarez was voted into the state of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame and the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 2009, the College Football Hall of Fame and UW Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010, and the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame in 2016.

Alvarez retired as head football coach following the 2005 season and spent 18 seasons as UW’s director of athletics. Alvarez presided over one of the nation’s most prosperous and respected athletic departments. Wisconsin enjoyed remarkable success during Alvarez’s tenure, winning a combined 16 team national titles and 74 conference regular-season or tournament crowns. In 2017-18, he earned Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year honors.

“That was quite a surprise. I’m touched. I’m honored,” Alvarez said. “That means so much to me to have my name on this field. Thank you for this. For my name on the field, that is very touching and very meaningful to me.

“I’ve said this all along, I got into this because so many coaches touched my life. I love my players. To have the opportunity to see so many players come back, to me, that’s what I got into this for. It wasn’t about making money or having my name on the field.”

Plans are for the words “Barry Alvarez Field” to be placed in the northwest and southeast corners of the field when the Camp Randall Stadium turf is replaced prior to the start of the 2022 season.