Badgers going after Luke Fickell instead of Jim Leonhard

No doubt we will hate him in a few years.

Wow!!!!

Is he good enough for Tschmack, though?

Source close to #Wisconsin football program confirmed that #Badgers will name Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell as head coach and plan to announce it later today.

— Tom Oates (@TomOatesWSJ) November 27, 2022

Surprising, given the previous reporting.

I wonder where Jim will end up

I'd love to see him take the job he previously declined.

I wanted Aranda but Fickell is a good get if the reports are true.  

He’s done a nice job at Cincinnati and probably won’t go chasing another job unless O$U were to open up at some point.  

If I’m MLF the next call I’m making is to hire JL as DC.   Win win for everyone involved.  If he does well he could become a HC down the road as his style actually seems better suited for the pros and no recruiting to worry about.

Wonder if Braelon Allen will put his money where his mouth is and transfer to USC or Michigan?  

I had a loud verbal 'WHAT!!' that just scared my wife. Did not see this coming…

If this is true it kind of blows me away.  I live near Cincinnati and by all reports Fickell has refused many big time programs such as ND because he didn't want to keep uprooting his family.  He is a defensive guy and he also brings an offense that is a little more open and not just 3 yards and a cloud of dust.

I also love the idea of bringing Leonard to GB as the DC.  I really hope that can come true.

Alvarez has confirmed the hiring.

I was thinking this was a red herring, but very glad it's not. He had a good draft class this year, much better than the Badgers'.

I'm not sure Leonhard has to leave either, necessarily. Mike Tressel will likely get major consideration for the head coaching job at Cincy now.

Wow.

So Mertz got two Wisconsin head coaches fired in less than two months.

That is the funniest damn thing I have ever read.

😳 😳 😳 OMGOSH……where’s Leonhard gonna go??  He won’t stay will he??  

No way his ego will allow him to stay as DC. Fickell would likely want his own guys, anyway, no? Mass exodus of 1 and 2 star talent to the transfer portal if the players are to be believed. I’m encouraged that Mac went outside of the UW family for this hire. Maybe the fish isn’t rotten all the way up to the head, after all. Can’t imagine Mertz will be given the QB job next season without heavy competition.

Seems to me like the new transfer rules allow a team to basically retool in one off-season…that’s awesome.

I didn’t remember Fickell staying on as defensive coordinator for the Buckeyes after he wasn’t named HC having secured an interim role before Urban Meyer came on board.   While I don’t think Leonhard will do the same,  it isn’t impossible either.

As for transfers, USC basically transformed themselves in one offseason with a new HC and some transfers.  Let’s see what the Badgers can do.

https://www.newser.com/article...rs%20under%20Fickell.

"Fickell’s Cincinnati players also succeeded in the classroom. Heading into this season, Cincinnati had a 100% graduation rate among players who had stayed in the program for four years under Fickell."

That should alleviate some of the hand wringing about having to deal with the school part of the equation.

If Leonhard wasn't one of the most popular players in Badgers history, anyone who thought they should hire Leonhard instead of Fickell would have to be completely crazy. Fickell has succeeded at Cincinnati without 5 star recruits. He's previously turned down overtures from Florida State, Michigan State, and West Virginia among others.

He's 53-10 the last 5 years.

It's amazing to me this guy is coming to Wisconsin. He's a guy places like Auburn would love to have gotten.

Yup, my guess is he talked to Urban, Day and Barry before taking the job which indicates to me that the Badger job is considered a good job.

That is comforting.

@Pikes Peak posted:

Yup, my guess is he talked to Urban, Day and Barry before taking the job which indicates to me that the Badger job is considered a good job.

That is comforting.

It's also a fairly low pressure job, especially after they cratered this year. If he goes to Auburn (or eventually Texas or Texas A and M if they open up as possibliities in a year or so) you risk getting fired if you go 8-4 a couple of years in a row. That won't happen at Wisconsin and the Big 10 West is a cakewalk compared to the SEC or the Big 10 East.

@Pikes Peak posted:

Yup, my guess is he talked to Urban, Day and Barry before taking the job which indicates to me that the Badger job is considered a good job.

That is comforting.

We as fans may not think the UW job is a great job now but I bet in coaching circles it is considered a good job. 

I also agree that the UW job right now is not a pressure cooker type of job especially with the last couple of seasons.  Still shocked they didn't go with Leonard but I like this hiring.

Love the hire

feel bad for JL

The beauty of the Wisconsin job is it’s a top 10-15 D1 revenue generating program with D2 expectations and pressure.

Programs like Cincinnati are maybe top 50-60 in terms of a comparison and Fickell already got them to a playoff appearance.  If he’s able to duplicate that (or get close) he’ll be the second coming of Barry Alvarez.  

We spend a fair amount of time in Arizona and I can tell you either UA or ASU would kill for a Jim Leonhard type guy.  They’d probably go further for that snake oil douchebag PJ Fleck.  The fact that UW landed Fickell is a big deal because it’s such an anti UW type hire.  Honestly, it means they think he can transform the football program into a real contender.  Leonhard would have been the safe choice, but not sure he has the same pedigree.  

According to this both his top 2 recruiting guys are expected to come. Very good news!! #Badgers https://t.co/UfGGbiIKpc

— Steve Fifer (@SparkyRadio) November 27, 2022

Will Luke Fickell take Cincinnati's commits with him to Wisconsin? @McNamaraRivals has five Bearcats recruits Fickell should target, including four-star DB Amare Snowden: https://t.co/RMC4mowLYh pic.twitter.com/UOGLXIAeq4

— Rivals (@Rivals) November 27, 2022

Brady Drogosh, 4 star QB recruit for Cincinnati, see if he follows to Madison

Cincinnati 4 star QB commit Brady Drogosh with an absolute dot. 😮‍💨pic.twitter.com/7efiKIxrbA

— Barstool Cincinnati (@UCBarstool) November 26, 2022

"There is a tremendous foundation here that I can't wait to build upon."

Last season's National Coach of the Year is excited to be a part of the Badger family.https://t.co/u2KQ7NvhKi

— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) November 27, 2022

Now official.

I’m betting Gary Anderson said much the same.  

They all do.

"I am incredibly excited to announce Luke Fickell as our new head football coach and to welcome his entire family to Madison," McIntosh said. "Luke is one of the top football coaches in the country. He is a proven winner, recruiter and developer of players. Equally as important, he shares our values. Coach Fickell is focused on giving our student-athletes the best opportunities possible and is attuned to the changing landscape of college athletics.

"My family and I are thrilled to join the Wisconsin family," Fickell said. "This is a destination job at a program that I have admired from afar for years. I am in total alignment with Chris McIntosh's vision for this program. There is a tremendous foundation here that I can't wait to build upon. This world-class university, athletic department and passionately loyal fan base all have a strong commitment to success and I can't wait to be a part of it."

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It will be interesting to see how much NIL $ come in now

@MichiganPacker posted:

That won't happen at Wisconsin and the Big 10 West is a cakewalk compared to the SEC or the Big 10 East.

Even tho he is now back in the B1G  you need to ask Bert Bielama about this.

mixed feelings on this.  hope it works out.  

WTF did Gary Andersen accomplish prior to coming to Madison?  As HC at Utah State he played the Badgers tough in one non conference game?

Bad comparison to Fickell.  I’m sure Luke was worried as Urb and the boys ran it up 50+ donut against GAs squad in the BT championship game.

LOL leave it to ammo to throw shade on this move.  Perhaps Leonhard shit himself over the prospect of going up against Fatty BBQ, but something tells me LF won’t be as concerned.

I’m OK with taking a shot on someone that has no ties to Wisconsin.  Fickell has a good history and pedigree and honestly is a much better choice right now than Leonhard.  I know for some that’s tough to comprehend, but quit the homer provincial shit.  It’s about Ws and Ls.  Leonhard was unspectacular in his the interim gig and Fickell has a much better (proven) track record.

How you can’t be excited about this move I have no idea.

Huh?

@Tschmack posted:

.

LOL leave it to ammo to throw shade on this move.  Perhaps Leonhard shit himself over the prospect of going up against Fatty BBQ, but something tells me LF won’t be as concerned.

What the FUCK are you talking about DUMB ASS????   I didn't post any shade on the Fickell hire.  With acknowledgement to B K " Sometimes, when you’re stupid, just don’t post. That way we won’t know you’re stupid."   I was comparing what MP2 posted and what  BB said it was easier to win a National Championship at Arkansaw rather than Madison.    Your comprehension really sucks or you are drunk already before the Packer game even starts.   

You took that from what MP posted?  You sure you aren’t drunk?  

The Big Ten West IS mediocre regardless of what Bert does in Illinois or not.  I know what he said when he got the job at Arkansas.  He’s a an idiot.  But he still got over on Chryst and that’s why he was fired.  Leonhard went basically .500 against average competition and didn’t get the job.

Yes or no you like the hire?   Enquiring minds want to know.

Sure I like the hire.  I pray he can bring a QB with him, whether it is Prater, Lichtenberg or a recruit  so I never have to see Mertz again.  He will probably also bring his son Landon who is an OL.   I also hope he can limit the transfers to a minimum.

Mertz still sucks