MADISON, Wis. — The day Saeed Khalif was fired from his position as Savannah State’s defensive coordinator may have been the best thing for his longevity and impact in college football, even if it didn’t feel that way at the time. Without that watershed moment, it’s quite likely he never sees his calling in the world of recruiting. And he certainly doesn’t become one of the most important behind-the-scenes figures for Wisconsin’s program, handling day-to-day responsibilities that are changing the direction of the Badgers’ recruiting efforts.



Back in April 2013, Khalif learned Savannah State was relieving head coach Steve Davenport of his duties, as well as nearly the entire staff, following a 1-10 season. Khalif, a Georgia Tech alum who was a standout defensive lineman for the Yellow Jackets from 1984-86, began calling everybody he knew to alert them of his plight. He soon heard Georgia Tech was adding resources to expand its...