Back in 2010, Katie Perry released the song “The One That Got Away” about someone she regretted letting leave her life. The hit song could have easily been about the Badgers and former quarterback Jack Coan. Even though he led the Badgers to a Big Ten West title, a Rose Bowl appearance, and put his name in the record book; Badger fans still clamored for then four-star recruit Graham Mertz to start. After that season, a broken foot would sideline him for all of 2020 and Mertz ultimately took over the job. When that happened, Coan ultimately transferred to Notre Dame where he played his final season. I believe Coan was very underappreciated during his time at Wisconsin and ultimately was the one that got away.
In what was a season to forget in 2018, then starting quarterback Alex Hornibrook struggled all season. This led to Jack Coan making his first start against Northwestern. He would go on to start the rest of the season including in the Pinstripes Bowl. The Badgers would go 3-2 during that stretch including winning that bowl game. Coan finished the 2018 season passing for 515 yards with five touchdowns including rushing for a score and three interceptions.
Prior to the 2019 season, Jack Coan would compete and ultimately win the starting job. That season was his best one as a Badger. While benefiting from having Jonathan Taylor behind him, he finished with 2,272 passing yards with 18 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Only Russell Wilson and John Stocco threw for more yards in a season. He also rushed for four touchdowns as well. Coan also completed over 69 percent of his passes that season. The only quarterback who had a higher percentage was Wilson and Scott Tolzien had a higher completion percentage in a season. Wisconsin would finish with an overall record of 10-4 overall. They would win the Big Ten West and appear in the Rose Bowl. At the end of the year, they would finish ranked just outside the top ten.
Despite all that he helped the Badgers accomplish, fans still clamored for Graham Mertz to start. Prior to the pandemic ravaged 2020 season; Coan broke his foot in camp and then ruled out for the year. Graham Mertz would ultimately get the job and impress people in his first start against Illinois. With the Badgers now turned to Graham Mertz, Coan opted to transfer as a graduate to Notre Dame.
This past season was a career year for Jack Coan. He threw for 3,150 yards with 25 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Coan would lead the Fighting Irish to an 11-2 record and an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl. The Irish would also finish the season ranked inside the top ten.
I don’t believe Badger fans really appreciated what Coan did during his career in Madison. While he was never a “flashy” quarterback, he did his job and was efficient at it. Most importantly, he took care of the football and barely turned it over. As a result, the Badgers won football games and went to a big-time bowl game. I don’t believe fans should be asking for much more other than winning. With Graham Mertz struggling last season, I think Badger fans have just started to appreciate everything Jack Coan did in 2019.
The worst-case scenario you want from a quarterback is for them to be efficient and not have turnovers. During the Badgers’ amazing 2019 season, Jack Coan did all of that. Unfortunately for Coan and every Badger quarterback, they’re unfairly compared to Russell Wilson who set an impossible standard. With how efficient he was at completing passes, that’s as close to Russell Wilson as a Badger fan can expect. While we remember Jonathan Taylor’s running prowess that season; without the threat of Coan’s efficiency, it would have been harder for Jonathan Taylor to do his job.
Jack Coan did great things for the Badgers and it’s time we appreciate him more. Since he hasn’t been under center, the Badgers haven’t won the Big Ten West or gone back to the Rose Bowl. Even though not enough time has passed, it’s something worth noting. He also is third all-time in career completion percentage (68 percent) trailing only Russell Wilson and Scott Tolzien.
Unfortunately, Jack Coan is the quarterback that never got his due with the fans and got away. Right now, it’s safe to say that Coan is definitely a quarterback that I’m sure fans wished they embraced more. I know I wish I did. They say “you don’t know how good it is until it’s gone.”
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