Luke Fickell leaves Cincinnati for Wisconsin: College football media reacts
By Mark Powell
Former Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell has left the program to take a Power-5 job with the Wisconsin Badgers.
Wisconsin fired its previous head coach, Paul Chryst, midseason, with many expecting that interim man Jim Leonhard would take his place full-time once the season was over.
However, with bigger fish available in the head coaching pond, the Badgers instead hired Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell, which many programs tried to lure away from Ohio in previous seasons. Yet, Wisconsin seemed to be an ideal fit for Fickell, who will head back to the Big Ten for the first time since his previous gig as interim head coach for Ohio State.
For Cincinnati, losing Fickell shouldn’t impact their potential move to the Big 12, though it is curious timing. Though Fickell helped take the Bearcats to new Group-of-5 heights, they won’t take a major step back depending on who they hired to replace him.
Wisconsin hires Luke Fickell as next head coach
Fickell went 57-18 during his time at Cincinnati, and he now returns to his Big Ten roots. He was a former player and assistant coach at Ohio State before taking over the Bearcats.
The entrance of Fickell into the Big Ten comes at a critical time. USC and UCLA are scheduled to join the conference in 2024. Ohio State and Michigan remain near the top of the CFP rankings, and are consistent threats to finish in the top-4 every season. USC is likely to jump Ohio State for a playoff spot after the Buckeyes decisive loss to Michigan this Saturday.
Wisconsin had to hire a big name to match the looming storm, and they did just that in Fickell.
Luke Fickell will be the next head football coach at Wisconsin, sources confirm to @TheAthletic. Fickell informed University of Cincinnati he is leaving to take the new job.
— Justin Williams (@Williams_Justin) November 27, 2022
This process has been reported by multiple outlets today. @PeteThamel was first to break news of pursuit.
If Matt Rhule is getting $9 million then Luke Fickell at $6 million would be highway robbery https://t.co/bX0Ik1bv1M
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 27, 2022
You knew they'd lose him eventually. Thought they might at least make it to the Big 12 first.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) November 27, 2022
Big Ten West added Matt Rhule and Luke Fickell in 24 hours. https://t.co/tZ2gB51v0T
I can confirm. I've been told that the "deal is done" and "he's coming." Luke Fickell, the winningest coach in Cincinnati Bearcats history, is headed to Wisconsin. https://t.co/z5JdGIiSYK
— Keith Jenkins (@MrKeithJenkins) November 27, 2022
Wisconsin hits gold by landing Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell as head coach. Great hire by the Badgers.
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) November 27, 2022
All reports are saying that Luke Fickell’s gonna be announced as the next coach for Wisconsin later today.
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 27, 2022
HUGE congrats to both parties.. we chatted with him about the reality of being a GREAT head coach in the college football world in 2022 a couple weeks back.. GOOD DUDE. pic.twitter.com/dzF4KxbiJR
Luke Fickell changed Cincinnati football. He built UC into a College Football Playoff contender. 20 years ago, you’d be lucky if 5,000 fans showed up at Nippert Stadium. As a lifelong Bearcat fan, I saw things I didn’t think were possible in Clifton. Thank you @CoachFick.
— Brandon Saho (@BrandonSaho) November 27, 2022
Can’t believe Wisconsin is the job that could lure Luke Fickell away from Cincinnati.
— Blake Jewell (@BlakeJewellNFL) November 27, 2022
Good program, but doesn’t seem like a “must take” job at all
Luke Fickell is going to kill it at Wisconsin
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) November 27, 2022
#Cincinnati has a team meeting set for 1 p.m., according to sources. Likely the chance for Luke Fickell to say goodbye to the Bearcats players.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) November 27, 2022
Fickell was bound to leave Cincinnati at some point. Evidently, that time is now. It remains to be seen if the Badgers are the right fit.
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