When Dave Doeren and Bob Bostad were hired on the original staff of University of Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema two years ago, it was with two moves potentially in mind.

Doeren, who was hired as linebackers coach, co-defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator, would ultimately take over as defensive coordinator.

Bostad, who was hired as tight ends coach and promoted to running game coordinator last year, would take over as offensive line coach.

The expected moves came Thursday, when Bielema made them official. They came after defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz was fired, shortly after the Outback Bowl, and offensive line coach Bob Palcic left for the same job at UCLA.

Bielema still has two openings, apparently for tight ends and linebackers coaches. He will now "go about the business of hiring two new position coaches" according to a UW release.

Doeren will remain as recruiting coordinator. Bielema will apparently continue to oversee special teams, as he did last season. He said before the bowl game, it was one of the things he enjoyed most about last season.

"Dave Doeren and Bob Bostad have earned these promotions through hard work and their ability to handle additional responsibilities with our program," Bielema said in a statement.

"I hired them both originally with the thought that they could both eventually move into these new positions at some point, so I'm pleased that is happening."

Doeren's career has paralleled Bielema's in many ways. A linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Kansas from 2002-05, Doeren was promoted to co-defensive coordinator his final year. The Jayhawks ranked third nationally in run defense his final year, allowing 83.3 yards per game.

Bielema started out coaching linebackers at Iowa, then was promoted to co-defensive coordinator for two years at Kansas State. His first chance to run his own defense was when he came to UW as defensive coordinator in 2004.

Bostad is a well-known name in this area and has done impressive things in two seasons with the tight ends, one of the team's most productive positions. He's the son of the late Pardeeville football coach, of the same name, who is a member of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Junior Travis Beckum developed into an All-America tight end in only two years at the position, while sophomore Garrett Graham emerged as one of the biggest surprises on the team, after a hamstring injury to senior Andy Crooks. Graham finished second on the team with 30 receptions for 328 yards.

Bostad coached the offensive line at New Mexico from 1999-2005 and had two players who were named first-team All-Mountain West Conference his final year. They helped pave the way for DonTrell Moore, the nation's 10th-leading rusher.

Bielema has not made himself available to reporters since the coaching changes were first reported. Hankwitz has since been hired as defensive coordinator at Northwestern.

"I'd like to thank Mike Hankwitz for his work here the past two seasons and wish him and his family well as they move on to Northwestern," Bielema said in the statement. "I want our program to be able to maintain continuity through the natural transition that takes place in coaching and that's what is happening here."