Fickell begins Badgers tenure by reaching out to players

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell spent a lot of his first day on the job talking to his new gamers, realizing a lot of them had hoped this search would have a distinct consequence.

His message to them was sympathetic however direct.

“Change is inevitable,” Fickell mentioned Monday throughout a welcome occasion earlier than his introductory information convention. “The expansion is what’s optionally available. I’m keen to develop.”

Fickell posted a 57-18 document in six seasons at Cincinnati and helped the Bearcats earn a Faculty Soccer Playoff berth final yr. He has Huge Ten expertise as a former Ohio State defensive lineman and interim head coach.

But his instant problem will probably be profitable over a roster that includes many gamers who weren’t shy about saying they wished this job to go to Jim Leonhard, the previous Wisconsin defensive coordinator who went 4-3 because the Badgers’ interim head coach after the Oct. 2 firing of Paul Chryst.

“We’ll all be rising collectively by this variation,” Fickell mentioned. “It’s by no means straightforward. It’s by no means straightforward, however the issues which can be straightforward aren’t what final. The issues which can be straightforward aren’t going to get us to the place we need to go, to get us again to the place we deserve and imagine we must be.”

Athletic director Chris McIntosh mentioned Fickell will get a seven-year contract averaging $7.8 million per yr.

Fickell, 49, takes over a Wisconsin program that hasn’t received a Huge Ten title since 2012 and should win its bowl recreation to keep away from its first shedding season since 2001.

Wisconsin hasn’t indicated its staffing plans for the bowl recreation, although Fickell mentioned he and Leonhard had began speaking it over.

“I’ll be teaching in a roundabout way, form and type,” Fickell mentioned. “We’ll work out what meaning.”

The hiring of Fickell represents a second gorgeous transfer by McIntosh, who took over this job final yr after the retirement of Barry Alvarez.

First McIntosh fired a coach who had received 72% of his video games, although Chryst had gone simply 15-10 since 2020 and was off to a 2-3 begin this yr. Then he handed up the chance to make Leonhard the everlasting substitute and as an alternative spent huge to herald Fickell, who has a way more confirmed monitor document.

Leonhard is a former Wisconsin walk-on who developed into an All-American security, performed 10 years within the NFL and gained a popularity as one in all faculty soccer’s high defensive coordinators. McIntosh praised Leonhard’s efficiency as interim head coach, referred to as him “a part of the DNA of this program” and mentioned he gave him “very sturdy consideration” earlier than deciding on Fickell.

“It turned evident that Luke and his expertise and his perception system and his strategy and his course of, which was confirmed and does align with what we imagine right here, was the way in which that I felt we must always go and the way in which I felt greatest positioned our program for long-term success,” McIntosh mentioned.

Fickell can establish with Leonhard’s circumstances, having gone 6-7 because the interim head coach at his alma mater in 2011 after the exit of Jim Tressel and earlier than the arrival of City Meyer at Ohio State. Fickell mentioned he’s open to the potential of together with Leonhard on his employees if there’s mutual curiosity.

However he famous that Leonhard figures to have loads of choices.

“Jim will know what’s greatest for him,” Fickell mentioned. “Jim will know what’s greatest for this program. Jim will know what’s greatest for this group. And I respect that. We’ll proceed to speak about what the longer term seems like, however we don’t know what that’s proper now.”

McIntosh mentioned he did apologize to Wisconsin’s gamers this season for all they’ve endured. Dozens of them attended Monday’s public welcome for Fickell.

Many gamers expressed their disappointment over the firing of Chryst again in October earlier than calling for Leonhard to get the job. They’ve additionally handled tragedy off the sphere, as former operating backs coach Gary Brown died in April and former teammate Devin Chandler was one in all three Virginia gamers killed in a taking pictures earlier this month.

“The expertise that these youngsters on this group had this yr isn’t one which I would need on anybody,” McIntosh mentioned. “It’s been extraordinarily tough. That’s why I mentioned earlier how pleased with the strategy they took. After we met with them final night time, I acknowledged it and I apologized for choices I’ve made this season which have contributed to the challenges of this season. That simply can’t be ignored. It’s been the toughest half for me and it’s clearly been arduous on these gamers, on these student-athletes.”

Wisconsin is relying on Fickell to assist this system transfer ahead and get again to competing for titles in a Huge Ten that ought to get far more aggressive with Southern California and UCLA arriving in 2024.

Fickell has referred to Wisconsin as a vacation spot job. He appreciated Wisconsin’s program whereas competing towards it as a participant and coach. He can’t wait to steer it.

“I’m extremely excited to get began,” Fickell mentioned. “We are able to’t get this factor rolling quick sufficient.”