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After a successful tenure with the Bearcats, athletic director Chris McIntosh revealed on Sunday that the Badgers had chosen Fickell to take over their football team.
In six seasons at Cincinnati, Fickell compiled a 57-18 record and helped the Bearcats qualify for the College Football Playoff last season. In 2011, following Jim Tressel’s retirement, the former Ohio State defensive lineman served as the Buckeyes’ interim coach and compiled a 6-7 record.
“This is a dream job with a program I have admired from afar for years,” Fickell said in a university-issued statement. “I agree with Chris McIntosh’s concept for this program completely. I cannot wait to build upon this amazing foundation.”
Sunday morning, Fickell informed the Bearcats players that coach was leaving the university. Kerry Coombs, a seasoned assistant coach, has been chosen interim head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats, according to a source familiar with Fickell’s decision.
The 49-year-old Fickell replaces interim coach and former Badgers star player Jim Leonhard, who succeeded Paul Chryst on October 2.
Chryst went 67-26 in seven and a half seasons. A day after the Badgers’ 34-10 home loss to an Illinois team coached by former Badgers head coach Bret Bielema, he was fired.
Luke is one of the country’s best football coaches. He is a proven winner, recruiter, and player developer, according to McIntosh’s statement. Equally essential is the fact that he shares our ideals. Coach Fickell is committed to provide our student-athletes with the finest available opportunities and is aware of the evolving landscape of college athletics.
“I am confident that he will value and appreciate the foundation that has been established for our football program over the years, while embracing the tremendous prospects that lie ahead.”
The Wisconsin Badgers (6-6, 4-5 Big Ten) are awaiting their bowl assignment. A bowl defeat would result in the Badgers finishing below.500 for the first time since 2001.
After Chryst’s dismissal, Leonhard was elevated to head coach and guided Wisconsin to a 4-3 record over the final seven games of the regular season. Leonhard stated on Saturday, following Wisconsin’s 23-16 home loss to Minnesota, that he had met with McIntosh.
“Earlier this week, we were able to sit down and have a terrific talk,” Leonhard remarked. “I believe that what was stated is between us, but hopefully choices will be taken soon in the best interests of our university.”
The Badgers instead chose Fickell, who led Cincinnati to its first-ever CFP berth. Last season, Fickell won multiple national coach of the year awards after leading Cincinnati to a 13-0 record and a Cotton Bowl semifinal loss to Alabama.
The 2021 Cincinnati squad generated nine draft picks, which was the third-highest number among all schools, after only Georgia’s 15 and LSU’s 10. Five Cincinnati players were taken among the top 100 picks overall.
Cincinnati has posted a 9-3 record after replacing all of its NFL stars. Saturday’s American Athletic Conference championship game will not include the Cincinnati Bearcats.
Cincinnati was 4-8 in Fickell’s first season as head coach in 2017, but has since gone 53-10.
Cincinnati players coached by Fickell also excelled in the classroom. Prior to this season, all athletes who had remained in the program for four years under Fickell had graduated for Cincinnati.
»Wisconsin appoints Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell as head coach in massive shakeup«