Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell receives standard contract extension
Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell has received a routine contract extension through 2032, keeping his deal at full length per university policy.
When the University of Wisconsin hired Luke Fickell in 2022 to lead its football program, the former Cincinnati head coach signed a seven-year deal intended to keep him in Madison through 2029.
Now, less than two years into his tenure, that agreement has been extended as part of Wisconsin’s standard contract renewal process. On Wednesday, it was announced that the university’s Athletic Board approved a routine extension for Fickell, pushing his contract through 2032.
This is a procedural move that Wisconsin has regularly applied to its head coaching contracts, ensuring they maintain their full contract length rather than letting them approach an expiration date.
It's widely believed that this measure is in place to promote job security externally and help with recruiting efforts.
"I'm really excited about the progress our program has made and the team we have heading into the 2024 season," McIntosh said before the 2024 season.
"The day-to-day process that Luke [Fickell] has implemented has been impressive, and while fans might not see it all, the Spring football was incredibly productive. It’s clear to see the program Luke is building, and for me, seeing this tangible progress is truly reaffirming.
"It’s been an incredible and exciting journey from where we started.”
This extension means Fickell’s contract—initially set for seven years—remains at its full duration. His salary will increase by $100,000 as scheduled, bringing his pay for the 2025-26 period to $7.7 million.
The University of Wisconsin’s approach to coaching contracts is built around the appearance of stability, with annual extensions written into agreements rather than renegotiating based on performance or outside interest.
Fickell’s agreement includes language ensuring his contract receives an annual one-year extension, provided his performance is "deemed satisfactory" by the athletic director and approved by the board. In other words, Fickell's extension was merely a formality.
At the end of the 2024 season, Fickell ranked as the 18th highest-paid college football coach in the country with a salary of $7.7 million. His buyout currently sits at just over $40 million as it stands, further solidifying coach Fickell’s place at Wisconsin for the foreseeable future.
If Wisconsin were to part ways with Fickell before the last regular season game of 2029, he would be entitled to liquidated damages equal to the greater of 80% of his remaining contract value or $6.48 million, with the latter serving as the floor for his buyout. After the 2029 season, Fickell’s buyout would be fixed at $6.48 million.
This structure ensures protection for both Fickell and the university while reinforcing the long-term commitment Wisconsin has made to its head coach.
Fickell wasn’t the only Wisconsin coach to receive an extension. The Athletic Board also approved contract renewals for volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield, women’s soccer coach Paula Wilkins, and men’s soccer coach Neil Jones—each of whom is now under contract through 2030.
Through two seasons, Fickell’s time in Madison has been nothing short of underwhelming. After inheriting a program run by Paul Chryst—and then briefly by Jim Leonhard—Fickell led the Wisconsin Badgers to a 7-6 finish in 2023 and an appearance in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
However, the 2024 season saw the Badgers struggle, finishing with a 5-7 record and suffering their first losing season as a program since 2001, all while watching a 22-year bowl streak vanish.
“I’ve been coaching for a good while, playing this game for a good while, and I don’t know that I’ve been in a position and situation like this, to be honest with you,” Fickell told reporters. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, a lot of things to get done, a lot of things we got to fix up and correct.”
Now, the focus shifts to the field, where Fickell and his retooled staff are gearing up for a pivotal Year 3 of the ongoing rebuild after posting a 12-13 record thus far. The expectation is that Jeff Grimes’ arrival as offensive coordinator will help Wisconsin get back to its identity on that side of the ball and provide the spark needed for a step forward in 2025.
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