For the first time in 28 years, Kevin Cosgrove won't be coaching the game that he loves: college football. But the potential for any separation anxiety may be eased by 1) his view that this is more of a respite than a setback, 2) his conviction that he will be coaching again next season, collegiately or professionally and 3) his commitment to relocating back to Madison, where he will volunteer his time to help mentor his son with the Edgewood High School football program.

Cosgrove, the former University of Wisconsin assistant, admitted that family considerations took precedence on the heels of four turbulent seasons at Nebraska; none more tumultuous than the final weeks of 2007, during which head coach Bill Callahan was ousted and Cosgrove was fired as defensive coordinator. Callahan and Cosgrove have been confidants since rooming together as college freshmen at Illinois Benedictine. Their friendship continued to grow during coaching stints under Illinois' Mike White in the '80s and Wisconsin's Barry Alvarez in the '90s.

"Billy is doing well today," Cosgrove said of Callahan, who is coaching the offensive line and serving as the assistant head coach to Eric Mangini with the New York Jets. "He's moving on, just like I'm moving on. I'm not going to look back and wonder if I made the right decision to go to Nebraska (in 2004). I had a great situation here at Wisconsin (a 14-year run). But I took a chance. It could have turned out great, too. No one could foresee the wheels falling off like they did last season."

Two years ago, Cosgrove had a chance to leave Lincoln, Neb., on his own terms. But he turned down a job offer from the Minnesota Vikings and their rookie head coach Brad Childress, who had coached with Callahan and Cosgrove at both Illinois and Wisconsin. That decision also revolved around family considerations. "We had moved two years earlier from Madison and everyone was feeling comfortable in Lincoln," Cosgrove said. "I couldn't do it again so soon."

Kevin and Shelly Cosgrove have three children. Clint, who graduated from Madison Edgewood and Arizona State, will be entering his second season as a grad assistant with the University of Minnesota football program. Shannon, who attended Edgewood through her junior year, will be returning to the University of Nebraska for a one-semester internship and one more year of classes. She wants to work as an animal trainer at Sea World. Connor, who was going into the eighth grade when the family was uprooted from Madison, will be coming back for his senior year at Edgewood High School.

"I had a couple of opportunities to coach this season," Kevin Cosgrove confided. "But I just couldn't pull Connor out of a Lincoln high school and move him to another unfamiliar school district or part of the country. Because of his familiarity with Madison, and the friends that he still has here, I felt like this was the most logical move to make. Our older kids had a great experience at Edgewood, and this gives me a chance to be around my youngest and get him through his senior year."

To this end, Kevin Cosgrove has volunteered his services to Edgewood football coach Al Minnaert, who got to know Cosgrove while working at Wisconsin summer camps. "From our standpoint, it made a lot of sense from our previous relationship knowing how he works and treats kids to add someone of his expertise," Minnaert said. "He'll be like a consultant and help us out with our football program. He'll lend his experience and be that extra set of eyes to help make some observations and recommendations."