Wisconsin

How a recent rule changed helped Wisconsin's Casey Rabach fulfill his coaching dream

Published

2 years ago

August 1, 2024

How a recent rule changed helped Wisconsin's Casey Rabach fulfill his coaching dream

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — Casey Rabach sat in his office one morning in February and contemplated a question about what he wanted his future in football to look like. Rabach had spent the past two years working as an integral part of Wisconsin’s recruiting department and was happy helping his alma mater. Deep down, he knew he wanted to pursue a slightly different path.

“To directly impact a program on the football field is probably the end goal,” Rabach said at the time. “Probably at some point that will happen, but we’ll see.”

Rabach didn’t have to wait long to fulfill his coaching dream.

The NCAA approved a rule change in June that allowed all football staff members to provide coaching instruction during practices and games. The shift removed a previous rule in which the maximum number of countable coaches was 11. Rabach became an obvious choice for Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell to expand his coaching staff.

Fickell hired Rabach as an assistant offensive line coach in addition to his role as director of scouting, working alongside offensive line coach AJ Blazek. Rabach said Wednesday, following the team’s second preseason practice, that he engaged in “multiple conversations” with Fickell about a potential coaching opportunity.

“Once football is in your blood and being on the field, it’s hard to separate yourself,” Rabach said. “When the NCAA changed the rules, or there was a lot of smoke about the rules going to be changed, I started having the serious conversations with him as, ‘I think I can be an asset somehow, some way on the field.’ And he agreed 100 percent. He saw how I acted and my demeanor, similarities that coincide between him and I. It happened really fast, though.”

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Not that Rabach or Wisconsin is complaining. The arrangement seems to represent a perfect marriage between coach and program given Rabach’s history and his passion for the Badgers.

Fickell acknowledged in February 2023 after he was hired at Wisconsin that he “probably didn’t get that exact mix” of coaches that he initially mapped out to blend the new with the old. He cited not having any full-time coaches with significant ties to Wisconsin as former players. He now has that in Rabach, a center at Wisconsin from 1996 to 2000, who became a third-round NFL Draft pick for Washington and played for a decade in the pros. The move also comes at a good time with Blazek entering his first season at Wisconsin after a stint coaching at Vanderbilt.

Blazek has embraced the added help. Zack Heeman, a graduate assistant who played at Rutgers, also assists with the offensive line. Blazek noted that he and Rabach played center for Big Ten rivals at the same time, with Blazek at Iowa from 1999 to 2000. He joked that the two were “like stepbrothers that are working together every day.”

“It was fun as Fick came to me with the conversation to really help him continue in his career, too,” Blazek said. “He’s a hell of an O-line coach, and we have a lot of fun together. So it’s kind of like a couple Boy Scouts just hanging out every day figuring out what to do.”

Blazek said the division of responsibilities would be a “two-man tag team.” Rabach will have a particular emphasis on interior line play with centers and guards, but he said he was “hungry to learn” more about the nuances of being a coach. He’ll work alongside a seasoned coach in Blazek, who has 19 seasons of full-time experience.

Rabach, who was responsible for recruiting players along the offensive and defensive lines in a department that included Pat Lambert and Max Stienecker, will continue to oversee scouting of the O-line. He helped the Badgers sign a five-man offensive line class in 2024, and five more are committed for 2025.

“I don’t think a lot has changed,” Rabach said. “I’m still identifying potential recruits. I think the way I easily put it is what a position coach did 20 years ago. There were no personnel departments. There were no recruiting departments. Those position coaches were the ones that went and found X, Y and Z and recruited them. It’s similar.

“AJ is a phenomenal recruiter by everybody’s standard. He is very hands-on, very interactive with the student-athletes and the recruits. It makes my job 10 times easier.”

Rabach’s post-playing career in football had consisted of a role coaching his son’s youth teams and a stint in 2015 with the Green Bay Packers personnel department. In 2020, he evaluated schemes and self-scouted players in Wisconsin’s program for then-Badgers offensive line coach Joe Rudolph on a volunteer basis while taking classes on campus to complete his undergraduate degree. That experience led to a job in Paul Chryst’s reconfigured recruiting department in 2022, and Fickell kept Rabach on in a similar role before elevating him to assistant line coach.

GO DEEPER

Former Badgers player Casey Rabach is having a big impact on Wisconsin’s recruiting

Rabach said he hoped to provide players with a relatable perspective because he once walked in their shoes at Wisconsin. From a technical standpoint, he can add knowledge based on his years of playing experience.

“I’ve struggled with that 2i blown upfield with a pin block on the back side,” Rabach said. “How did I fix that? What was my research? Where did I go? How did I do it? I think that is where my biggest assets are.”

Badgers left guard Joe Brunner, a native of Whitefish Bay, Wis., said he was ecstatic when he learned Rabach would be sliding into a coaching role because Rabach is a man the players in the program look up to and that “he’s the definition of the standard of the Wisconsin offensive line.” Brunner said Rabach’s knowledge already has paid off in the ways Rabach has helped Brunner be more physical as a pass blocker. Center Jake Renfro said Rabach had improved his hand placement.

“It’s something I’ve kind of always struggled with as a center,” Renfro said. “Just because everything happens so fast. But having him, just picking his brain about how fast I’ve got to get my hands and where I’ve got to put them and re-fitting and all these different things with the hands, having him there really just watching me and all the centers is really cool to have.”

Rabach will help mold an offensive line that once again enters a season with high expectations. Four projected starters have significant college playing experience: left tackle Jack Nelson, Renfro, right guard Joe Huber and right tackle Riley Mahlman. Brunner has seamlessly plugged in as a starter since the spring. Coaches are attempting to build depth with the second group, with backup guard JP Benzschawel the likely sixth man. True freshman Kevin Heywood and redshirt sophomore Barrett Nelson could be among the reserve tackle options.

One benefit of Rabach’s previous role strictly in recruiting was that he had more time to make the three-hour, 15-minute drive to his home in Egg Harbor, Wis. That won’t be the case with his responsibilities as a coach. But he said the support he received from his wife, Nicole, as well as his three kids, was paramount in his choosing to accept the job. His oldest daughter, Alana, attends Wisconsin, while his son, Porter, is entering his senior year of high school and his daughter, Siena, is beginning high school.

“I’m blessed with an unbelievable wife and kids,” Rabach said. “They are the ones that kind of pushed me to this decision seriously. They understood where my passion is, where I can be really successful. And as long as they were on board, I think that was the hardest conversation. As long as Nicole and the kids were OK with this, then that’s when I jumped in full-hearted.”

(Photo by Mark Stewart / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA Today Network)

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Wisconsin

How many homes could be built in Northeast Wisconsin in 2026?

Published

10 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

How many homes could be built in Northeast Wisconsin in 2026?

(Stacker) – Homebuilding plays a critical role in maintaining a steady housing supply and keeping prices at sustainable levels. As the U.S. population grows, more housing is needed to meet demand. Since the Great Recession, construction has lagged well behind what is needed, which is one of the main reasons home prices are so high today.

Supply has slowly increased over the past few years but is still below what is needed for the market to balance out. Until that gap closes, prices are likely to remain elevated, and many buyers will likely struggle to afford a home.

So, how many homes are getting built in Northeast Wisconsin in 2026? Is construction increasing or decreasing?

Redfin Real Estate analyzed the rate of housing permits issued in the cities of Appleton, Fond du Lac, Green Bay, Oshkosh and Sheboygan over the past 13 months to find out.

Appleton

Appleton housing permits January 2025-January 2026(WBAY)

2026

January – Building permits: 29 (1.2 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 57 (2.3 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 52 (2.1 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 46 (1.9 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 74 (3.0 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 74 (3.0 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 60 (2.5 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 183 (7.5 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 53 (2.2 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 128 (5.3 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 139 (5.7 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 86 (3.5 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 246 (10.1 per 10k)

Fond du Lac

2026

January – Building permits: 10 (1.0 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 12 (1.2 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 12 (1.2 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 11 (1.1 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 20 (1.9 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 21 (2.0 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 15 (1.4 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 17 (1.6 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 16 (1.5 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 21 (2.0 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 19 (1.8 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 11 (1.1 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 20 (1.9 per 10k)

Green Bay

2026

January – Building permits: 304 (9.3 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 84 (2.6 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 67 (2.0 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 97 (3.0 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 166 (5.1 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 141 (4.3 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 93 (2.8 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 185 (5.6 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 120 (3.7 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 88 (2.7 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 155 (4.7 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 156 (4.8 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 62 (1.9 per 10k)

Oshkosh

2026

January – Building permits: 16 (0.9 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 15 (0.9 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 23 (1.3 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 22 (1.3 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 46 (2.7 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 61 (3.6 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 54 (3.1 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 77 (4.5 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 26 (1.5 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 87 (5.1 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 125 (7.3 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 16 (0.9 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 79 (4.6 per 10k)

Sheboygan

2026

January – Building permits: 3 (0.3 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 13 (1.1 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 31 (2.6 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 27 (2.3 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 9 (0.8 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 19 (1.6 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 22 (1.9 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 11 (0.9 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 11 (0.9 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 15 (1.3 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 174 (14.7 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 13 (1.1 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 38 (3.2 per 10k)

Nationally

2026

January – Building permits: 1,386,000 (44.2 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 1,460,000 (46.6 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 1,454,000 (44.2 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 1,481,000 (47.2 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 1,422,000 (45.4 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 1,394,000 (44.5 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 1,393,000 (44.4 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 1,362,000 (43.5 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 1,330,000 (42.4 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 1,425,000 (45.1 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 1,411,000 (45.0 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 1,388,000 (44.3 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 1,455,000 (46.4 per 10k)

National permit data is a seasonally adjusted annual rate; metro-level permit data is the non-seasonally adjusted total number of permits issued per month.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for May 9, 2026

Published

22 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

Wisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for May 9, 2026

The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 9, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from May 9 drawing

15-41-46-47-56, Powerball: 22, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 9 drawing

Midday: 2-4-4

Evening: 8-4-5

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 9 drawing

Midday: 7-3-4-7

Evening: 3-3-5-1

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning All or Nothing numbers from May 9 drawing

Midday: 03-04-05-06-07-09-12-13-14-16-19

Evening: 03-08-09-12-13-14-15-17-20-21-22

Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Badger 5 numbers from May 9 drawing

05-14-18-25-27

Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning SuperCash numbers from May 9 drawing

02-09-16-28-32-35, Doubler: Y

Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Megabucks numbers from May 9 drawing

02-20-36-39-40-41

Check Megabucks payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.

Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?

No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.

When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.

That lucky feeling: Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Feeling lucky? WI man wins $768 million Powerball jackpot **

WI Lottery history: Top 10 Powerball and Mega Million jackpots

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin multi-county police chase, 2 people from Illinois arrested

Published

1 day ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Wisconsin multi-county police chase, 2 people from Illinois arrested

article

Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office

FOND DU LAC COUNTY, Wis. – Two people from Illinois were arrested following a police chase that started in Fond du Lac County and ended in Winnebago County on Friday, May 8.

Initial traffic stop

What we know:

According to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, just after 1 p.m. the sheriff’s office got an alert for a stolen vehicle out of Illinois heading northbound on I-41 from County Road Y.

It was learned that the vehicle was involved in two different police chases in the past week in Illinois, but had eluded officers each time.

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A short time later, a deputy spotted the vehicle on I-41 near Winnebago Street. The deputy continued to follow the suspect vehicle northbound, waiting for more deputies to get into position to attempt a high-risk traffic stop. Once those deputies were in position, a high-risk traffic stop was conducted. The vehicle initially pulled over and stopped, but right after deputies got out of their squad cars and started telling the people to get out of the vehicle, it instead fled northbound on I-41.

Chase into Winnebago County

What we know:

The chase went into Winnebago County, with the vehicle failing to pullover and instead speeding up. As the chase continued, the vehicle continued driving recklessly, passing by other vehicles on the interstate, including passing on the shoulder and weaving between vehicles, all at a high rate of speed.

The vehicle exited I-41 and ran three red lights. The chase continued southbound on State Highway 26, with the vehicle continuing to pass vehicles at a high rate of speed on the two-lane highway.

The vehicle then went off the road and drove through the yard of a home before circling around in the yard, traveling through the ditch, and reentering the highway going northbound. It then went into a field near County Road Z and Clay Road.

As a sergeant with the sheriff’s office was moving in to perform a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT Maneuver), the suspect vehicle went into reverse and rammed the front of the squad. The vehicle then attempted to leave the field by traveling through a ditch and back up onto the road, where another sheriff’s squad ended the chase by intentionally striking the vehicle and pushing it off the road and back into the ditch.

The vehicle rolled over in the ditch, came to rest upright, but was then disabled and could not move. Two people got out of the vehicle and were taken into custody. The vehicle started on fire and a fire department had to respond to extinguish the fire. Both people from the vehicle were evaluated by medical personnel on scene.

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Facing charges

What we know:

The driver of the vehicle was identified as a 23-year-old man from Des Plaines, Illinois. He was taken to the Fond du Lac County Jail on the following charges:

Fleeing/Eluding an Officer
1st-Degree Reckless Endangering Safety (2 Counts)
Resisting/Obstructing Officer
Delivering Illegal Articles by Inmate (Ecstasy Pills).

The driver’s criminal history in Illinois was flagged as armed and dangerous with previous weapons offenses, dangerous drug offenses, and criminal damage to property.

The passenger of the vehicle was identified as a 23-year-old woman from Franklin Park, Illinois. She was taken to the Fond du Lac County Jail on the following charges: