Meet the Wisconsin Football Coach Dominating the Recruiting Scene

Colin Hitschler, the new safeties coach/co-defensive coordinator for the Wisconsin football program, is quickly making a name for himself on the recruiting trail, particularly on the east coast, where he was born and raised.

Hitschler joined the Badgers coaching staff in January 2023, following a successful stint as an assistant under head coach Luke Fickell at Cincinnati, where he began as a quality control coach in 2018 and earned a promotion to safeties coach and, later, co-defensive coordinator. 

On3 even named him one of the “rising star assistants you need to know” in 2022, and after seeing the impact he’s made on recruiting for the Badgers in such a short time, it’s hard to argue with their logic. 

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The Proof is in the Pudding for Wisconsin Football Assistant Colin Hitschler

As an assistant coach, one of his primary responsibilities is identifying, recruiting, and getting top talent to visit the program from his assigned region. And Colin Hitschler has already shown a knack for doing just that.

“The tradition of success on the East Coast here [Wisconsin] and the ability to play for these fans and in this environment sells itself,” coach Hitschler told BadgerNotes.

In the 2024 recruiting cycle, Hitschler has acted as the primary recruiter for five of the Wisconsin football program’s 15 verbal commits, including four-star offensive tackle Kevin Heywood (PA) and three-stars like safety Kahmir Prescott (PA), safety Raphael Dunn (NJ), IOL Ryan Corey (PA), and Gideon Ituka (MD).

“He [Hitschler] is an amazing coach and can break down film using simple words that make it easy for me to understand high-level concepts and strategies,” Raphael Dunn told BadgerNotes. “Coach Hitschler treated everyone with respect and didn’t put too much pressure on me or my family or give us any fluff. He is an amazing recruiter but an ever-better human, which makes him an elite-level recruiter. His ability to speak to everyone with respect added to his success.”

It’s also worth noting that coach Hitschler is the active lead recruiter for four-star cornerback Omillio Agard (PA) and three-star CB Lloyd Irvin (MD), who are both expected to land at UW, in addition to four-star defensive end Benedict Umeh (CT), who recently took an official visit to Madison.

Hitschler’s success in his first year at Wisconsin is a promising sign for the program’s future. With his strong recruiting ties out East, capacity to connect with families, and proven ability to identify and develop talent, he could play a key role in helping the Badgers get back to competing at the highest level.

This man might be an ace recruiting specialist for the Wisconsin football program and one of the best-kept secrets within the program.

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