The top 25 college football head coach rankings by CBS Sports were released in an article written by Tom Fornelli, and a familiar name to the Wisconsin Badgers turned up on the list. New head coach Luke Fickell turns up at number 9. As mentioned by Tom Fornelli, no head coach has made their debut on the top 10 of the rankings.
Arrival to Wisconsin Badgers
Fickell’s arrival to Badger football came just in time for the Badgers’ 24-17 over Oklahoma State in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Fickell brings with him a fresh wave of anticipation and excitement to the Badgers’ faithful in his first full season as the head coach. He quickly assembled his coaching staff, including offensive coordinator Phil Longo, who brought a game-changing air raid offense plan to North Carolina. He also added defensive coordinator Mike Tressel, a name Fickell worked closely with in their time together at Cincinnati.
Fickell was likely to debut in top 10 had he stayed in Cincinatti. He enjoyed a remarkable six-year tenure leading the Bearcats, amassing an impressive record of 57-18. His leadership helped rebuild a Cincinnati football program to unprecedented heights, including a coveted College Football Playoff appearance in 2021. It was the first time a program outside of the Power 5 conferences to advance.
The Winds of Change for the Wisconsin Badgers
Now entrusted with the Wisconsin Badgers’ football program, Fickell has wasted no time making an impact. He’s worked to snag assets out of the transfer portal, brought in top recruits, and has brought an immense amount of excitement to the program. The fans will have high expectations for Fickell, especially after what he was able to do in Cincinatti. However, if he can guide the Badgers to playoff contention in 2023, he has the ability to start something really special for the Wisconsin Badgers football program.
As the countdown to the season opener begins, Badger fans eagerly anticipate witnessing the transformation Fickell will bring to the team. With his proven coaching acumen, a talented roster, and an unwavering support system behind him, all eyes are on Fickell as he begins his journey to propel the Wisconsin Badgers to new heights of success.