Mike Markuson Mike Markuson ( born June 15 , 1961 ) is an American football coach . Most recently he was the offensive line coach for the Wisconsin Badgers , from January to September 9 , 2012 . Education . Markuson is a 1979 graduate of Farmington ( Minnesota ) High School . He earned his B . A . in psychology at Hamline University in 1983 , and earned his M . S . in athletic administration at South Dakota State in 1986 . Markuson also played football for Hamline University from 1979 - 1982 at the defensive tackle position . Coaching Experience . As an assistant coach , Markuson has coached on both the high school and college levels of football . He coached for his alma mater , Farmington High in 1983 as the defensive line coach . Overall , Markuson has coached at nine different colleges spread across the different division levels of NCAA football . In 1984 , Markuson returned to South Dakota State where he coached the defensive line until 1985 . Moving back to Hamline University in 1986 , he spent a season there coaching the defensive line . In 1987 , Oklahoma State offered him a position as a graduate assistant coach which he accepted . After two seasons at Oklahoma State , Markuson had the opportunity to become a graduate assistant at one of college football ' s traditional powerhouses , Notre Dame . In his season with the Fighting Irish , he was able to coach in the coveted Orange Bowl in January 1990 . After spending three seasons as a graduate assistant coach , Austin Peay State University in Tennessee offered him the position of coaching the offensive line . He has coached the offensive line units ever since his move to Austin Peay . He spent only one season there , moving on to Alabama A & M in 1991 . In 1992 , he was granted the reigns as the offensive coordinator at Alabama A & M to add to his responsibilities of offensive line coach . Markuson moved on to Murray State University under newly hired head coach Houston Nutt in 1993 . After suffering two consecutive losing seasons at Murray State in 1993 and 1994 , Nutt and Markuson turned the program around . From 1995 - 96 , the Racers posted a combined record of 22 - 3 . In 1997 , Nutt was hired as the head coach at Boise State University . He decided to bring Markuson and Bobby Allen , the inside linebackers coach and defensive coordinator for Murray State , with him to Boise , Idaho . The Broncos finished the season with a 5 - 6 record . Nutt was hired as the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks in December 1997 and brought Markuson in to coach the offensive line . In 2003 , he was also named the team ' s running game coordinator . Markuson coached in six post - season bowl games at Arkansas , including a Florida Citrus Bowl ( 1999 ) and two Cotton Bowl Classic s ( 2000 , 2002 ) . Under Markuson ' s offensive line coaching , the Razorbacks led the Southeastern Conference in rushing offense for nearly five consecutive seasons . Markuson coached the Arkansas offensive line from 1998 until his departure to Ole Miss for the 2008 season . Markuson continued in his roles as offensive line coach and running game coordinator at Ole Miss until 2010 when he was promoted to co - offensive coordinator . Markuson debuted as the offensive line coach for the Wisconsin Badgers in January 2012 , but was fired on September 9 , 2012 after just two games , including a 10 - 7 loss to the Oregon State Beavers . Personal life . Markuson has two children , Joy Noelle and Elliot Bryan , with his wife , Dottie ( née Bryant ) .