Madison, WIS. – Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez learned a valuable lesson during his stint as interim head coach against Stanford in the 2013 Rose Bowl:

Don't be afraid to exert your authority.

Alvarez, who will serve as interim head coach when Wisconsin faces Auburn in the Outback Bowl on Thursday in Tampa, Fla., won't make the same mistake again.

"I won't be afraid to insert myself more," he told reporters after practice Tuesday morning. "I was a little reluctant last time and I kick myself now. That is one thing I won't hesitate to do this time around."

Alvarez acknowledged his involvement could include play-calling, though he is allowing coordinators Dave Aranda and Andy Ludwig to build the game plans for the bowl game.

"I've done this many years," Alvarez said. "As I told the coaches: 'I'm not going to jump in and try to change anything. You guys have coached them all year.'

"I'll do just what I did the last time. They're going to do their thing. I can manage the game. I'm not going to try to insert myself in a lot of places because I haven't built that relationship and trust with the kids.

"I don't know a lot of them that well. Same thing with the assistants."

Offensive line coach T.J. Woods and defensive line coach Chad Kauha'aha'a are expected to join Gary Andersen at Oregon State after the bowl game. Aranda is expected to remain with the Badgers as defensive coordinator under new coach Paul Chryst.

According to Alvarez, all of the assistants interested in staying at Wisconsin were told they will have a chance to meet with Chryst.

"They all knew where they stood," Alvarez said. "All the coaches have done a nice job. They've been very professional, done a nice job of game-planning."

When Alvarez filled in for Bret Bielema after Bielema left for Arkansas following the 2012 Big Ten title game, the assistants faced uncertain futures. Several wanted to stay but had to accept or reject job offers before they had a chance to interview at Wisconsin with Andersen.

"That last group, some of them were only in here for months," Alvarez said. "There was a division. Some had offers from [Arkansas]. Some had offers at North Carolina State.

"Some didn't have jobs. There was much more turmoil than on this staff. I think that was the biggest issue."

Chryst, as Andersen did in 2012, will be able to evaluate players and coaches during bowl practices.

"It is really good for Paul because he gets a chance to see all the kids," Alvarez said. "He gets to watch the coaches coach. He gets to familiarize himself with the kids that have committed to us, get caught up in recruiting. He gets a good jump on his job."

Austin Kafentzis, a touted quarterback from Utah who committed to the Badgers after his sophomore season, announced Tuesday night he plans to honor his commitment and enroll at Wisconsin in January.

Kafentzis is among 24 known commitments for the Badgers' 2015 class. Since Andersen's decision to leave Wisconsin, not one of the players has announced a commitment to another school.

Alvarez believes the members of the current team have handled Andersen's departure as well as the 2012 team handled Bielema's decision to leave.

That team pushed Stanford to the end before falling 20-14. Auburn is a 6 ½-point favorite over Wisconsin.

"The kids were great," Alvarez said. "In both cases the players were good. The players were resilient.

"I thought they went out and really played hard. They played a very good Stanford team, competed and had a chance to win the ballgame."