Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell has secured a one-year extension on his contract, which will now be in place through March 31, 2032.
The university’s athletic board approved the recommendation for the extension on Wednesday, continuing a contractual structure that ensures Fickell remains on a seven-year deal. His original contract, signed in December 2022 when he was hired away from Cincinnati, was a seven-year agreement averaging $7.8 million per season. It includes an annual review process that can result in a one-year extension based on satisfactory performance, the athletic director’s recommendation, and board approval.
This marks the second consecutive year that Fickell has received an extension, keeping his deal intact for the long term. The news comes despite Wisconsin’s disappointing 5-7 finish in 2024, marking the program’s first losing season since 2001 and ending a streak of 22 straight bowl appearances. The Badgers closed the season with five consecutive losses.
Fickell holds a 13-13 record since taking over at Wisconsin, with his tenure beginning on a high note in a 24-17 victory over Oklahoma State in the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl. He led the Badgers to a 7-6 record in 2023, his first full season at the helm.
Before coming to Wisconsin, Fickell built an impressive resume at Cincinnati, where he went 57-18 over six seasons, including a historic 2021 campaign that saw the Bearcats reach the College Football Playoff following an undefeated regular season. His overall head coaching record stands at 76-38 over nine seasons.
In addition to Fickell’s extension, Wisconsin’s athletic board also approved one-year extensions for volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield, women’s soccer coach Paula Wilkins, and men’s soccer coach Neil Jones. Their five-year contracts will now run through Jan. 31, 2030.
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