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Madison — Tim Tibesar has emerged as the likely replacement for Dave Aranda as Wisconsin's defensive coordinator, according to sources familiar with the program.

Tibesar, 43, coached UW's outside linebackers this past season. He drew praise from head coach Paul Chryst for developing reserves such as Jack Cichy and T.J. Watt.

UW capped the season with a 23-21 victory over USC in the Holiday Bowl and finished No. 1 nationally in points allowed per game (13.7) and No. 2 in yards allowed (268.5).

Aranda left UW to take over as LSU's defensive coordinator. His annual compensation package last season at UW was $520,000. He reportedly agreed to a guaranteed contract of three years and more than $4 million with LSU.

Tibesar's base salary last season was $250,000.

UW officials told the Journal Sentinel, via email, that they could not provide a list of applicants until the position had been filled.

According to a source, Chryst explored the idea of hiring Houston defensive coordinator Todd Orlando.

Orlando, who played linebacker at UW from 1990-'94, did not want to leave Houston largely out of loyalty to coach Tom Herman.

Herman hired Orlando away from Utah State before last season. Orlando reportedly was paid $501,000 in his first season at Houston.

Tibesar's last stint as a defensive coordinator came in 2012 at Purdue. Before that he was the defensive coordinator for Montreal of the Canadian Football League in 2011. He was the Alouettes' linebackers coach in 2009 and '10 and helped the team win back-to-back Grey Cup titles.