Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, September 29, 2016

Michigan has been impressive out of the gate under Jim Harbaugh. And Ohio State also is rolling behind Urban Meyer, just like Nebraska under Mike Riley. Minnesota?s Tracy Claeys and Maryland?s DJ Durkin have unbeaten teams, too, just like Michigan, OSU, Nebraska and Minnesota.

But has any coach been better than Wisconsin?s Paul Chryst, who is 4-0 with two wins over Top 10 teams?

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I surveyed members of the media who cover the Big Ten and asked who they felt was the early choice for coach of the year.

Rachel Lenzi, Land of Ten/Cox Media Group:
Can I pick two? My first is Paul Chryst because of Wisconsin's early success, despite the fact that the roster has sustained injuries and shakeups. Second is DJ Durkin because he has changed the culture at Maryland and we've seen a completely different Terps program in their first three games.

Kyle Austin, Mlive.com:
Paul Chryst. While Michigan and Ohio State have largely done what we expected them to do, Wisconsin has rattled off two wins against top 10 teams for the first time since 1962 and established itself as the team to beat in the Big Ten West. Oh, and they changed quarterbacks between those wins, too.

Joe Christensen, Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Paul Chryst has won two marquee games and handled a QB transition masterfully.

Matthew Weaver, Peegs.com:
I'll go with Paul Chryst at Wisconsin. Mike Riley would be a close second. Impressed with the way they have started the season and he seems to have them playing better than what people predicted.

Bill Rabinowitz, Columbus Dispatch:
It's obviously either Urban Meyer or Paul Chryst. Just to avoid being a homer, I'll go with Chryst for beating two highly ranked teams already. But I suspect this might finally be the year for the first time since Earle Bruce (1979) that an OSU coach wins Big Ten coach of the year.