Wisconsin has hired former Scott Nagy assistant Joe Krabbenhoft as an assistant coach, bringing a former player back to the Badgers.

He returns to Madison to join the staff of Greg Gard, who was an assistant when Krabbenhoft was a Wisconsin player from 2005-09. Gard described his new assistant as a fierce competitor who played with toughness and fearlessness.

Krabbenhoft comes from South Dakota State, where he was an assistant coach the past three seasons. At Wisconsin, Krabbenhoft replaces Gary Close, the longtime assistant who stepped down last week.