Wisconsin Badgers are progressing at growing their new culture
Wisconsin embarked upon a major culture shift when the firing of Paul Chryst was announced. Chryst had been the head coach of the Badgers football team since 2015. The former coach was known for leading one of the most consistent programs in the nation.
The Badgers needed to find the right coach to help turn their program around. The talent and ability is certainly there, but the expected success hasn’t been matched. Luke Fickell, who boasted a 63-25 record as a head coach, accepted the job and task at hand. Already, Fickell has begun to install his coaching staff and begin to shift the culture Wisconsin has previously had.
The #1 key: Luke Fickell and the trio of “Badgers”
The term “culture” in football can be a determining factor in whether or not a staff member receives the job. Head coaches, players, and fans all want their team to have a distinct culture that drives them. Without the motivation to live up to a specific standard, the team can fall apart.
Coach Chryst did a magnificent job at developing a winning culture composed of intelligent football. However, good things must always come to an end and unfortunately the time came for Chryst to be fired. The hiring of Luke Fickell not only initiates the shift towards a new culture, but also an extremely successful one.
The Cincinnati Bearcats had three straight seasons before Fickell with six or more losses. Following his hiring, the initial struggle was felt with the Bearcats finishing 4-8 in 2017. From 2018-2022, Fickell went 53-10 and developed incredible talents like Sauce Gardner, Coby Bryant, Myjai Sanders, and Alec Pierce to name a few.
Fickell has developed a winning recipe and developed successful NFL players in the process. Perhaps the biggest key for the Badgers’ staff is how Fickell was able to keep a core of assistants together. Fickell brought along defensive coordinator Mike Tressel, safeties coach Colin Hitschler, and wide receivers coach Mike Brown.
The #2 key: Experience galore rounds out the Badgers’ staff
The second major key for the Badgers’ revamped staff is their layers of experience. Between Luke Fickell and Mike Tressel there is 51 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level. Colin Hitschler is one of the younger staff members, but he has spent his coaching career alongside Fickell. However, Fickell and Tressel are just the tip of the iceberg surrounding the incredible experience that Wisconsin Badgers’ staff has.
New #Badgers OC Phil Longo on his relationship with HC Luke Fickell: pic.twitter.com/w1ADuasS4h
— Alex Strouf (@alex_strouf) January 5, 2023
Recent hires Phil Longo and Paul Haynes bring another 52 years of collegiate experience at the highest levels. New offensive coordinator Phil Longo has averaged over 500 offensive yards per game at two different colleges. Along with this, Longo also had three 1000 yard rushers and receivers during his time at North Carolina.
Paul Haynes brings 29 years and past head coaching experience to the Badgers. While experience may not always translate into success, the Badgers’ staff is full of leaders and teachers. The new look staff is still growing by the day for the Badgers.
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