NU hires assistant coach

Northwestern has hired former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz to the same position, an NU source confirmed Sunday night.

Hankwitz, 60, served as Wisconsin's defensive coordinator the last two seasons but recently was fired by head coach Bret Bielema. He replaces Greg Colby, who was fired Dec. 3 by Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Hankwitz's hiring comes three days after Fitzgerald tabbed Bowling Green's Mick McCall as his offensive coordinator. An official announcement on both coordinators is expected to come later this week.

Wisconsin finished second nationally in scoring defense (12.1 ppg) and fifth nationally in total defense (253.1 ypg) two years ago. Last season the Badgers ranked 38th in total defense (356.2 ypg) and 35th in scoring defense (23.2 ppg).

Hankwitz's firing reportedly came as a shock to the coach.

Northwestern's defense finished no higher than 68th nationally during Colby's six years as coordinator, ranking last nationally in 2005.

In addition to Wisconsin, Hankwitz has been the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan, Colorado (on two occasions), Kansas, Texas A&M and Arizona. He also served as Arizona's interim head coach for six games in 2003.

Hankwitz's second stint as Colorado's defensive coordinator came while Gary Barnett was head coach. Barnett coached Fitzgerald at Northwestern.

Hankwitz's hiring figures to stoke NU's rivalry against Wisconsin, which doesn't resume until 2009, when the teams wrap up the regular season Nov. 21 in Evanston.