Wisconsin Football Coaches Penalized For Now Legal 2023 Phone Calls

Wisconsin football head coach Luke Fickell and outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell will serve minor suspensions for 2023 violations.

In a newly released NCAA referendum, the NCAA notified officials that the Wisconsin football program had committed recruiting violations dating back to 2023 according to Colton Bartholomew of Badger Extra. Wisconsin staff members made a total of 139 calls to 48 recruits before the open communication period had started. The majority of the calls lasted less than a minute and many of the calls were made by now former Wisconsin football staff members.

Former Wisconsin defensive line coach Greg Scruggs received the harshest of punishments with a one-year show-cause order and a two month restriction on communication with high school recruits. Scruggs is currently not a member of a collegiate staff as the coach resigned from his role with the Michigan Wolverines following a DUI.

Former Wisconsin football director of player personnel Max Steinecker received a one-week suspension from high school recruiting activities in addition to a one-year show-cause order. Steinecker is currently a member of the USC staff in the same role after leaving Wisconsin following the end of the season.

How will the Penalties Affect the Wisconsin Football Staff?

For the current Wisconsin football staff, a $25,000 fine and a one-year probation has been imposed on the program. Both Fickell and Mitchell will receiving suspensions from high school recruiting activities as well for the upcoming week. Fickell and Mitchell can return to recruiting activities without any issues after the week is up.

Wisconsin had previously self reported the violations to the NCAA during the 2023-24 season and self-imposed restrictions as well. The NCAA reached a settlement with the Wisconsin football program and agreed upon the current penalties.

However, the rule in which Wisconsin violated is no longer a rule and had been in the process of changed at the time of the offense. While that does not fix the situation, the violations mark the first of their kind for the Wisconsin football program since 2001.

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