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Wisconsin football: Updates on Luke Fickell’s assistant coaching staff

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Wisconsin football: Updates on Luke Fickell’s assistant coaching staff


The Wisconsin Badgers shocked many throughout school soccer by formally hiring Luke Fickell to be their subsequent head coach final Sunday.

The transfer signaled a altering of the guard at Wisconsin underneath Chris McIntosh and left the standing of the previous teaching employees up within the air, specifically Jim Leonhard, who many assumed would earn the top teaching function.

Luke Fickell and the athletic division shortly posted a number of employees openings on Monday, in an try and get issues up and operating as quickly as potential. With purposes due by December 5 at 11:55 p.m. CST, the expectation is that Fickell will announce nearly all of new hires on December 6 to additional kick-start recruiting and the power program.

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Whereas Wisconsin remains to be taking purposes, there have been loads of developments over the previous week that make clear what the employees could appear like.

Here’s a have a look at what we all know to date. 

Brady Collins will oversee the power program

One space the place Luke Fickell and Cincinnati have been nice was participant growth. An enormous cause for that was the work of Brady Collins, who was the Director of Sports activities Efficiency at UC. He’ll include Fickell to Madison and convey with him a number of assistants as effectively. That transfer is simply awaiting an official announcement per a number of reviews, as Collins will take over because the Director of Soccer Power and Conditioning. 

Collins took over because the Director of Sports activities Efficiency underneath Fickell in 2017 after working as a power coach at Ohio State and Mississippi State. He helped information the Bearcats to sending 9 gamers to the 2022 NFL Draft, the third most of any program within the nation behind solely Georgia and LSU. 

Collins succeeds Shaun Snee, who was the power coach at Wisconsin for the previous two seasons. 

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Recruiting division has new management

Luke Fickell spent chunk of his introductory press convention discussing the significance of recruiting. He additionally talked about that two key recruiting staffers are following him to Madison.

In keeping with a number of reviews, Pat Lambert and Max Stienecker are in Madison and already attending to work underneath Fickell. Lambert was beforehand the Director of Recruiting at Cincinnati, whereas Max Stienecker was the Director of Recruiting Technique. These two assistants performed an integral function in enhancing Cincinnati’s recruiting over the previous few years and can now be tasked to do the identical at Wisconsin.

Luke Fickell understands the significance of a recruiting division, and I’d anticipate extra employees members to affix that group too. Fickell stated that the 2023 recruiting class is the “No. 1 precedence” given how shut early signing day is. Lambert and Stienecker are doubtless working extra time proper now with coaches on the highway and a number of tight ends coming to campus this weekend. 

Nearly all of Wisconsin’s offensive employees shall be gone

This could not come as an enormous shock after the offense has underperformed the previous three seasons, and the group was assembled by former head coach Paul Chryst and consisted of lots of ‘his guys.’ 

Former offensive line coach Bob Bostad has already accepted a place at Indiana to turn into their run-game coordinator and offensive line coach, that means that Fickell will herald new blood in that space. 

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The expectation is that Fickell will doubtless do the identical in all places else on the offense as effectively. 

It has been reported by a number of shops that Fickell’s passing sport coordinator/vast receivers coach, Mike Brown, will comply with him. Brown performed three years within the NFL and has been the vast receivers coach underneath Fickell since 2019 after starting his profession as a operating backs coach at Liberty. He helped develop 2021 second-round decide Alec Pierce of the Indianapolis Colts. It isn’t but identified if Brown will nonetheless maintain the title of passing sport coordinator at Wisconsin, however that may doubtless rely upon how issues shake out with the remainder of the offensive employees. 

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It’s unlikely that Fickell brings over many others from his offensive employees at Cincinnati following some turnover on the employees primarily based on their success in 2021, however the title to look at is offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli. The previous Cincinnati quarterback has risen by the ranks at Central Michigan and Cincinnati. He has expertise teaching each quarterbacks and operating backs previously. He’s additionally a robust recruiter, and it is going to be fascinating to see if he joins Fickell. Guidugli is a candidate for the top teaching job at Cincinnati, but when he would not get the job he might be Madison sure in some capability. 

Past Mike Brown and doubtlessly Gio Guidugli, I’d anticipate Fickell to rent from outdoors, however we will see. 

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Defensive employees nonetheless very fluid

Defensive assistants Mike Tressel and Colin Hitschler are already on the highway recruiting for Wisconsin, signifying that they are going to in all probability be two of the coaches made official early subsequent week. 

Tressel was not too long ago named the 2022 AFCA Assistant Coach of the 12 months for his work at Cincinnati as a co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. An extended-time assistant at Michigan State, Tressel has in depth recruiting ties within the Midwest and has held quite a lot of roles. 

This previous season was Hitschler’s first as a co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach after a number of seasons as a safeties coach underneath Fickell. Hitschler has spent a number of years within the NFL in numerous capacities and likewise spent a while at South Alabama earlier than becoming a member of Fickell in Cincinnati in 2018. 

Whereas each coaches have sturdy resumes, the most important query remaining is, what about Jim Leonhard?

From all accounts, Leonhard has each alternative to remain at Wisconsin as defensive coordinator. Fickell stated he’s “positively” considering retaining Leonhard on his employees, however it’s now as much as Leonhard. 

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It has been broadly lined how necessary the College of Wisconsin is to the previous All-American security, and his household additionally want to keep. At this level, it’s a ready sport, and till Leonhard makes an official choice any roles on Wisconsin’s protection employees stay fluid. 

For instance, Tressell has been a particular groups coordinator and linebackers coach far longer than he has been a defensive coordinator. Luke Fickell may make the titles and cash work to maintain him and Leonhard, assuming Fickell has a bigger wage pool than anticipated. 

Hitschler may additionally slide into a unique function as effectively primarily based on his expertise, so proper now, actual job titles on the protection stay up within the air, and are frankly one thing that Fickell could make work primarily based on how issues shake out with Leonhard. 

One other fascinating part to look at with the defensive employees is the standing of Wisconsin line of defense coach Ross Kolodziej and outdoors linebackers coach Bobby April. Of the present assistants, past Jim Leonhard, these two have the perfect odds of probably staying in Madison. Kolodziej is a Wisconsin man and has accomplished an amazing job with the line of defense the previous two seasons after a number of years as a power coach. The truth that he has ties within the state may additionally make him an necessary individual to assist with in-state recruiting. April, alternatively, is broadly considered one among Wisconsin’s prime assistants and a robust recruiter. If Leonhard have been to remain, retaining April turns into extra believable, although I’d anticipate April to garner important outdoors curiosity from the school and NFL ranks. 

Cornerbacks coach Hank Poteat is one other risk, however there are hardly ever too many holdovers when a brand new head coach is available in. 

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Wisconsin RB enters transfer portal. NCAA waiver gives senior another year of eligibility

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Wisconsin RB enters transfer portal. NCAA waiver gives senior another year of eligibility


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MADISON – A recent court ruling has opened the door for former junior college players to gain another year of NCAA eligibility.

It appears that Tawee Walker is going to take advantage of the opportunity.

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According to On3, Wisconsin’s senior running back will enter the transfer portal in search of a home for next season. The news came one day after the NCAA approved a blanket waiver granting one more year of eligibility to athletes who competed at a non-NCAA school for one or more years and would have otherwise exhausted their eligibility during the 2024-25 school year.

Walker fits the bill. He played the the 2021 season at Palomar College. a junior college in San Marcos, California, before competing for Oklahoma in 2022 and ’23 and Wisconsin this season. The NCAA counts his junior college season towards his four years of college eligibility.

The waiver stems from a case brought forward by Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia. A Tennessee court ruled that counting the two seasons he played at a junior college toward his NCAA eligibility violated the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Walker, a 5-foot-9, 218-pound Las Vegas native, led the Badgers with 864 yards in 190 carries, a 4.5-yard average, and scored 10 touchdowns.

He begin the season sharing the No. 1 tailback role with Chez Mellusi and blossomed after Mellusi took what proved to be a permanent leave Oct. 3.

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As Wisconsin’s primary ball carrier Walker ran for 718 yards in 152 carries, a 4.7-yard average, with nine touchdowns.

His best stretch was a three-game run against Purdue, Rutgers and Northwestern when he gained 418 yards in 66 carries, a 6.3-yard average, and scored six times.



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2024 Wisconsin Badgers Positional Review: Safeties

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2024 Wisconsin Badgers Positional Review: Safeties


2024 Wisconsin Badgers Positional Review: Safeties

Wisconsin football saw its season end without bowl practices for the first time since 2001. The Badgers hit a new low this century in year two of the Luke Fickell era, and will face a critical get-right year in 2025.

Over the next two weeks, BadgerBlitz.com will examine the 2024 Badgers position by position. Today, we’ll wrap up the series with the safeties, a unit that helped anchor a strong defensive backfield in 2024.

POSITIONAL REVIEWS: Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends | Offensive Line | Defensive Line | Outside Linebackers | Inside Linebackers | Cornerbacks

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2024 HIGH: Preston Zachman’s continued development

Redshirt senior Preston Zachman continued his development into a highly reliable safety in 2024, and even better news? He’s coming back next fall.

Zachman became somewhat of a surprise starter alongside Hunter Wohler last season, but he played well in the process, displaying his football IQ and a knack for being in the right place in the right time. He continued to take steps in a positive direction this season, posting a career-best stat-line of 58 total tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions and four pass breakups.

The safety has a penchant for making routine plays routinely. He missed just six tackles on 753 total snaps, per Pro Football Focus. He also surrendered just one touchdown across 366 coverage snaps. But Zachman can also make the big play. His most impressive rep of the season was likely his interception in Los Angeles, pictured above. In coverage against dynamic slot weapon Zachariah Branch, a matchup most would deem a mismatch, he blanketed the receiver, bodied him at the catch point, reeled in the interception and talked smack in the star pass-catcher’s face after the whistle.

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The ball skills he displayed were impressive, but it was also a clinic in technique and positioning. Zachman is one of the most fundamentally sound players on Mike Tressel‘s defense, and his return for 2025 is massive for a secondary that figures to be relatively inexperienced and also just lost its best player in Wohler.

2024 LOW: Hunter Wohler vs. USC

Interestingly enough, one of Zachman’s best games (USC) was also one of Wohler’s worst. He gave up two touchdowns in the second half alone, helping the Trojans complete the comeback victory.

With time dwindling in the third quarter, USC faced a 3rd-and-7 from the Badgers eight yard-line. Wisconsin sent six pass-rushers after Trojans’ quarterback Miller Moss, leaving five one-on-ones in coverage against a five wide look. That included Wohler on the 6-foot-6 wideout Duce Robinson.

Robinson ran a skinny post and simply boxed Wohler out to reel in a touchdown, looking like a forward pulling down a rebound over a guard. It’s hard to blame Wohler for giving up four inches of height to the physical specimen of a wideout, but still, the safety was directly responsible for that touchdown.

Wohler gave up a touchdown on the very next drive as well. The Trojans marched down the field in nine plays but were faced with a 4th-and-1 on the Badgers’ seven yard line. Moss ran a read option, and kept the ball with outside linebacker Aaron Witt crashing off the strong side. Wohler read the play well, and came face-to-face with Moss in the open field. If he made the tackle, it would’ve been a turnover on downs. Instead, Moss hit him with a filthy spin move, breaking the safety’s ankles and scoring a touchdown. Another straight-up mano a mano that Wohler lost resulting in a touchdown, on consecutive drives no less.

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ONE STORYLINE TO FOLLOW BEFORE THE 2025 SEASON: Which transfer nabs a starting role?

With the return of Zachman and Austin Brown, Wisconsin is in a solid spot at safety. The Badgers have two experienced starters, in addition to a plethora of young players including four true freshmen. Zachman and Brown both figure to be starters given their experience and solid play in 2024. But if we’ve learned anything about Tressel’s defense over the course of two seasons, it’s that he deploys three safeties frequently. Especially given the fact that Wisconsin figures to be inexperienced at cornerback with just four corners currently on the roster, safeties can be expected to play plenty of snaps.

The Badgers have signed two transfers at safety at the time of writing: Matthew Traynor (FCS Richmond) and Matt Jung (D-III Bethel). Traynor is a versatile safety who can line up anywhere, while Jung absolutely stuffed the stat-sheet at the D-III level. Both figure to get plenty of run behind Zachman and Brown. But which player looks more dynamic? Who appears to be adjusting to Big Ten competition better? Where in the alignment does either player line up? These will be critical questions to answer this spring and into fall camp.

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Wisconsin basketball receives votes in latest men’s AP, Coaches polls

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Wisconsin basketball receives votes in latest men’s AP, Coaches polls


Despite earning a 23-point win over Detroit Mercy, the Wisconsin men received fewer votes in both the AP and Coaches Poll Top 25s, which were released on Monday.

The Badgers (10-3, 0-2) stretched their win streak to two following three straight losses, which included two in Big Ten play. Wisconsin returns to league action on Friday, Jan. 3 when they welcome Iowa to Madison.

In the AP Poll, the Badgers picked up nine votes, as No. 25 Baylor received 125. In the Coaches Poll, Wisconsin got seven votes, with No. 25 Purdue receiving 73.

Oregon is the highest-ranked Big Ten team in both rankings, coming in at No. 9. Michigan State is 18th in both with Purdue No. 21 in the AP Poll followed by UCLA, with Illinois No. 24. In the Coaches Poll, UCLA is 21st, Illinois is 22nd and Purdue is 25th.

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Tennessee remained No. 1, receiving the majority of the first-place votes. SEC rival Auburn is second followed by Iowa State and Duke. 

Here is the college basketball men’s AP Coaches Poll Top 25 for Week 8:

(Dec. 23)

1. Tennessee (41)

2. Auburn (21)

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3. Iowa State

4. Duke

5. Alabama

6. Florida

7. Kansas

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8. Marquette

9. Oregon

10. Kentucky

11. Connecticut

12. Oklahoma

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13. Texas A&M

14. Gonzaga

15. Houston

16. Mississippi

17. Cincinnati

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18. Michigan State

19. Mississippi State

20. San Diego State

21. Purdue

22. UCLA

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23. Arkansas

24. Illinois

25. Baylor

Others receiving votes: Maryland 119, Dayton 108, Drake 91, St. John’s 90, Memphis 65, Michigan 50, Georgia 45, Pittsburgh 27, West Virginia 26, Missouri 25, Ohio State 23, North Carolina 20, Clemson 18, Arizona State 13, Utah State 9, Wisconsin 9, Texas Tech 8, Indiana 8, St. Bonaventure 4, Penn State 3.

Dropped from rankings: Memphis 21, Dayton 22, Michigan 24, Clemson 25.

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Here is the college basketball men’s Coaches Poll Top 25 for Week 8:

(Dec. 23)

1. Tennessee (20)

2. Auburn (11)

3. Iowa State

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4. Duke

5. Florida

6. Alabama

7. Kansas

8. Marquette

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9. Oregon

10. Kentucky

11. Oklahoma

12. Houston

13. Texas A&M

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14. Connecticut

15. Gonzaga

16. Mississippi

17. Cincinnati

18. Michigan State

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19. Mississippi State

20. San Diego State

21. UCLA

22. Illinois

23. Baylor

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24. St. John’s

25. Purdue

Others receiving votes: Maryland 65; Michigan 52; Drake 51; Arkansas 51; Georgia 42; Clemson 40; Dayton 28; Memphis 25; Pittsburgh 22; Utah State 14; Texas Tech 9; Wisconsin 7; North Carolina 6; Missouri 6; West Virginia 5; Penn State 1.

Dropped from rankings: Michigan 21; Memphis 22; Dayton 24.



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