Has Luke Fickell done enough to deserve a contract extension from the Wisconsin Badgers?
That’s the question many are asking after the university decided to keep the head coach until 2032, extending the contract he signed in 2022 by four years.
Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
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The UW Athletics announced:
The UW Athletic Board met Wednesday afternoon and approved the following recommendations of the UW Department of Athletics regarding contracts for four sports head coaches:
Football coach Luke Fickell’s seven-year agreement was extended through March 31, 2032.
Reactions to the extension is polarizing and it is mostly because of Fickell’s performance.
The Badgers finished the 2024 season with a 5-7 record and they missed a spot in any bowl games, the first time since 2001.
Fickell’s overall record since taking over is not that beautiful either. He is currently 12-13 in two seasons, the worst record by a coach since Barry Alverez’s time in 1990.
This is absurd. What has Fickell done to deserve an extension outside of wearing a cool vest https://t.co/Cb896U80sr
— Jordan Love Believer (still) (@love10god) February 19, 2025
Getting a 7-year extension is by far Fickell’s biggest win at Wisconsin. https://t.co/0Ayk5TXEAL
— Brad Powers (@BradPowers7) February 19, 2025
Other people are being optimistic.
I know the last 2 years have been rough at Wisconsin. But I think this is a smart move by Wisconsin. They changed everything when he came in. It’s not an easy quick flip. But Luke Fickell is a hell of a coach and just needs a lil more time to get things rolling. https://t.co/I1vLFulcYI
— Storm Chaser Jason🌰Garrison (@Jason23Gar) February 20, 2025
Wisconsin Badgers’ extension of Luke Fickell is standard
Although the reactions are not exactly kind for football reasons, others argued that what the university’s athletic director did is something that is part of a tradition.
The reason behind such move is to not allow coaches reach the expiring date of their initial contract.
Dillon Graff of Badgers Notes said it is all procedural.
This is a procedural move that Wisconsin has regularly applied to its head coaching contracts, ensuring they maintain their full contract length rather than letting them approach an expiration date.
It’s widely believed that this measure is in place to promote job security externally and help with recruiting efforts.
Another analyst is more pragmatic suggesting that the Badgers front office is being patient with Fickell and they are seeing positives with his offseason moves.
“To his credit, Fickell has moved quickly to remedy things. He hired offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes from Kansas, who will bring a more physical running game reminiscent of historic Badgers squads,” CBS reporter Shehan Jeyarajah wrote.
“The program poached quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. from Maryland and brought in 18 transfers to headline a top 25 recruiting class. The Badgers play Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon in 2025.”
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