MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Gary Andersen is Wisconsin's new football coach.

Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez made the announcement Thursday, and Andersen's official introduction will come Friday morning. The 48-year-old Andersen just completed his fourth and best season at Utah State. The 18th-ranked Aggies finished 11-2 with a bowl victory over Toledo and won the Western Athletic Conference.

Andersen had also drawn interest from California, Colorado and Kentucky last month, but decided to pass on those opportunities and received a contract extension from Utah State. But the offer from Wisconsin, a team his Aggies nearly beat this season, was too tempting.

Andersen replaces Bret Bielema, who left Wisconsin for Arkansas on Dec. 4, three days after the Badgers won the Big Ten title and a school-record third straight trip to the Rose Bowl.

AP-WF-12-21-12 0008GMT