Wisconsin Football Coach Luke Fickell Makes Bold Move, Fires Offensive Coordinator Amid Season
MADISON, Wis. – In a surprising mid-season decision, Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell has fired offensive coordinator Phi Longo and quarterbacks coach, citing a need for a change in leadership as the Badgers strive to regain momentum in their season. This decision comes after a disappointing loss to top-ranked Oregon, where Wisconsin fell 16-13, marking their third consecutive defeat.
Fickell addressed the team and the media, emphasizing that the change was about enhancing overall leadership rather than tactical play-calling or scoring metrics. "It’s not about play calls. It’s about moving forward with leadership," he stated. The head coach did not disclose specifics about who would assume play-calling responsibilities against Nebraska, indicating it would be a collaborative effort among the coaching staff. Kenny Guiton, the wide receivers coach, has been assigned to work with the quarterbacks.
While the Badgers sit at 5-5 and desperately seek to maintain their streak of 23 consecutive bowl appearances, Fickell reaffirmed confidence in starting quarterback Braedyn Locke, who has struggled since taking over following Tyler Van Dyke’s injury. Locke has thrown for 1,514 yards, with nine touchdowns but an equal number of interceptions.
Fickell’s decision to part ways with Longo, who was initially hired to introduce a more balanced offensive strategy, illustrates the challenges he faced in aligning coaching philosophy with player performance. Wisconsin’s offense ranks poorly in both yards and points per game this season, which has raised questions about their playing style.
"This is never something I envisioned doing, especially during the season," Fickell shared. "But for the program and the kids in the locker room, we needed to move forward." The Badgers now look to refocus and rejuvenate their season as they prepare to face Nebraska.
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