The Wisconsin Badgers have addressed all three phases of the game going into the 2023 season. Offense, defense, and special teams have undergone major upgrades. The players are just one piece to the puzzle, the coaching staff is another piece. Today the Badgers added to their special teams’ staff in a major way. Matt Mitchell was hired as the new special teams and outside linebackers coach.
Matt Mitchell Hired By Wisconsin Badgers
According to Pete Thamel, a senior writer for ESPN:
Sources: Wisconsin is hiring Grand Valley State head coach Matt Mitchell as the school’s new special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach. Mitchell has a career record of 117-31 in 12 seasons at Grand Valley, a Division II school in Michigan. Only Brian Kelly won more games as a head coach at Grand Valley (118).
Matt Mitchell began his coaching career at Division III Wartburg in 2000. He has been at Grand Valley since 2004. He spent his first six seasons as an assistant coach before taking over the program in 2010. In the past 12 seasons as head coach, Mitchell has recorded a 117-31 overall record. He won three conference titles, including one in 2022. Grand Valley has qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs seven times and reached the national semifinals twice under Mitchell.
Badgers’ head coach Luke Fickell has overhauled the Badgers’ coaching staff since he arrived. He has brought in offensive coordinator Phil Longo, signifying a switch to a more wide-open Air Raid style of offense. He’s also helped the Badgers land three major quarterback transfers, former four-star USC wide receiver C.J. Williams, multiple three star wide receivers, and numerous three and four-star defensive players. The Badgers currently have one of the best 2023 transfer portal classes in the nation.
