Wisconsin Continues to Be Stuck in Quicksand

By Mark Pszonak

Since Luke Fickell was hired as Wisconsin’s head coach on November 27, 2022, finding positivity has become increasingly difficult. What used to be one of the most consistent programs in the country, has fallen on hard times, which continued on Thursday with the news of NCAA sanctions.

The penalties, which were first reported by the Wisconsin State Journal, involves telephone calls made to recruits early during Luke Fickell’s regime as head coach. The calls involved nine coaches and staff members. An investigation by the NCAA and the Wisconsin athletic department determined the coaches made 139 calls during the first half of 2023 that violated rules. 117 of the calls were made during a non-permissible contact period for prospects.

Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell argues a call during the second quarter of their game against Minnesota at Camp Randall Stadium Friday, November 29, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin.

*© Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images*

The violations, which were self-reported by the UW athletic department, resulted in both NCAA and self-imposed penalties. The sanctions include a one-year probation from June 12, 2025 until June 11, 2026, a $25,000 fine for the institution to the NCAA and two one-year show-cause orders for two coaches who are no longer with the Badgers. Former defensive line coach Gregg Scruggs is now with the San Francisco 49ers while former director of player personnel Max Steinecker is now at USC. Finally, Coach Fickell and outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell are prohibited from recruiting communication with high school prospects from June 15^th till the 21^st.

While these aren’t significant sanctions, it also isn’t the press that Wisconsin needed during the current off-season. Coming off their first non-bowl season since 2001, the Badgers struggled with the transfer portal and dealt with the very public Xavier Lucas fiasco which ended with their promising cornerback transferring to Miami.

The latest negative press will come-and-go, but that doesn’t change the fact that the Badgers face an uphill battle on the field in 2025. Turning their offense over to transfer Billy Edwards Jr., who led Maryland to a 4-8 season while throwing 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions, the Badgers also have to navigate a schedule that includes Alabama, Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana and Illinois.