Luke Fickell received a contract extension that will keep him in Madison through the 2031 season.
Wisconsin announced Wednesday that Fickell and the school's athletic department have agreed on a one-year contract extension. Fickell was one of four Badgers coaches to receive an extension, along with volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield, women's soccer coach Paula Wilkins and men's soccer coach Neil Jones.
Luke Fickell contract extended through 2032.#Badgers pic.twitter.com/KlglpSGVTG
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) February 19, 2025
Fickell's deal comes after he led Wisconsin to a 5-7 season in which it missed a bowl game for the first time since 2001. Now 12-13 in two seasons as the Badgers' head coach, Fickell has made moves to turn the program around, hiring offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes from Kansas and bringing in quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. from the transfer portal. In all, Fickell added 18 transfers to the roster this winter.
Before his time at Wisconsin, Fickell led Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff in 2021, becoming the only coach to lead a Group of Five team to the playoff in the four-team era. In six seasons with the Bearcats, he had a 57-18 record and two AAC titles.
A defensive tackle at Ohio State from 1993-96, Fickell also coached at Ohio State from 2002-16 in various roles, including special teams coordinator, linebackers coach, co-defensive coordinator and interim head coach.
