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New Wisconsin Head Coach Luke Fickell Has a Secret Weapon

The Badgers’ new head coach has a secret weapon.

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Wisconsin Football head coach Luke Fickell
Dec 26, 2022; Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; Wisconsin Badgers coach Luke Fickell during Guaranteed Rate Bowl media day at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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If you weren’t already excited about the 2023 Wisconsin football team, get ready, because Luke Fickell brought a secret weapon with him to Madison, WI. If you thought the new Wisconsin head coach just happened to turn a middle of the pack program like Cincinnati into a College Football Playoff team without a little help, you would be wrong; he had some elite help by his side, and that help is now wearing the ‘Motion W.’

New Wisconsin head coach is bringing elite assistant

A massive part of Cincinnati’s success throughout the Luke Fickell era was his development — this is what allowed Fickell’s 2021 squad to run the table, including a massive win at Notre Dame, and finish No. 4 in the nation after a loss to Alabama. The proof is in the pudding when it comes to Luke Fickell’s tenure at Cincinnati — he took a 4-8 Bearcat football program and turned it into a nationally recognized brand.

After going 4-8 in year one, Fickell’s worst season at Cincinnati was a 9-3 season in 2022 — he finished ranked and with double-digit wins in all but two seasons (went 9-1 in the COVID-19 season). An overlooked part of Fickell’s success was his secret weapon: strength coach Brady Collins, who is now a Wisconsin Badger. With Collins’ help, Fickell managed to take average Group of Five talent and turn them into New Year’s Six contenders and AAC Champions on a yearly basis.

What can Collins do for Wisconsin football?

New Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell is walking into a bit of a mess, though still has high expectations in year one. The Big Ten West is looking as wide open as it has even been — which is saying something — and the Badgers appear to be reloading all over the board ahead of the 2023 season. With some help from Brady Collins, Wisconsin could quickly turn into a major player for the division title and more in year one of Fickell’s tenure.

Collins brings NFL experience from his time with the Bengals, and an extensive list of Power Five experience with Ohio State, Mississippi State, and Kentucky before arriving in Cincinnati on Fickell’s staff. There, he served seven years as the Bearcats’ strength coach before heading to Wisconsin with Fickell at the end of last season.

Without a doubt, Brady Collins is the Badgers’ new secret weapon — he will be instrumental in turning Wisconsin football into a National Title contender alongside Luke Fickell and the rest of his staff.


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