Badgers’ Luke Fickell asked to forgo extension amid struggles

Wisconsin’s head football coach, Luke Fickell, opted out of receiving a standard one-year contract extension from the university’s athletic board on Wednesday, choosing instead to prioritize improved team performance in the upcoming 2026 season.

The university typically offers extensions to maintain coaches’ contracts at their initial durations.

In an official statement to ESPN, athletic director Chris McIntosh noted that Fickell requested not to have the extension considered. Fickell had been awarded one-year extensions in both 2023 and 2024, and his current contract is effective until March 2032.

Currently, Fickell’s record stands at 17-21 with Wisconsin, following two consecutive seasons of losing, a first for the Badgers since 1991 and 1992.

McIntosh expressed in his statement, “I respect his request and have decided that Luke’s contract will remain in its current form. He is fully dedicated to ensuring a successful 2026 season. No one is more competitive than Luke, and he sets exceptionally high standards for himself. He is determined to meet and surpass the expectations of everyone involved with Wisconsin—his own, the team’s, the university’s, alumni, supporters, fans, and the entire state.”

Hired in late 2022 with a seven-year contract, McIntosh stated in November that Fickell would return to coach in 2026, even after facing a six-game losing streak, which included back-to-back shutouts at home against Iowa and Ohio State.

In confirming Fickell’s return, McIntosh also mentioned that the university would be boosting its investment in the program’s infrastructure, staffing, and player development.

McIntosh stated, “He continues to have our full support, and as we communicated widely at the end of last year, Luke is implementing necessary changes in the program. Our department is committed to increasing our investment, and we are aligned with campus leadership in our dedication to achieving football success.”

On Wednesday, Wisconsin’s athletic board granted one-year contract extensions to volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield and soccer coaches Paula Wilkins and Neil Jones, sustaining their contracts for an additional five years.