Wisconsin makes push to rent Luke Fickell as coach

Wisconsin has focused Luke Fickell to be the varsity’s subsequent head coach, sources informed ESPN. No deal is signed, however there is a robust push by the Badgers to try to land Fickell within the subsequent 48 hours.

Fickell led Cincinnati to the School Soccer Playoff final season and has gone 57-18 in his six years there. Fickell’s 2021 Bearcat group went 13-0 earlier than shedding to Alabama within the School Soccer Playoff, changing into the primary Group of 5 group to succeed in the CFP.

Fickell has robust roots within the Huge Ten, as he is a long-time assistant coach and coordinator at Ohio State and performed there collegiately. He’d been choosy about jobs over time as Cincinnati rose to the highest of the Group of 5, being selective in regards to the Midwestern footprint.

Fickell would change Paul Chryst, who was fired in the midst of the season after going 67-26 in eight seasons there. He’d been changed by Jim Leonhard, who had been the defensive coordinator and was thought of a candidate for the top teaching job.

Fickell’s attraction to the Badgers brass, alongside together with his file and roots within the league, is his capability to construct a program. Fickell turned Cincinnati into one of many nation’s greatest growth applications, taking modest recruits and constantly churning out robust groups.

Final yr, Fickell’s Bearcats had 9 gamers picked within the NFL draft, which was third behind solely Georgia (15) and LSU (10).

Fickell spent one season as an interim coach within the Huge Ten, going 6-7 in 2011 within the wake of the firing of Jim Tressel at Ohio State. He stayed affected person from there, working because the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator underneath City Meyer and profitable a nationwide championship within the 2014 season.