Wisconsin Receives Probation for Recruiting Violations
MADISON, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin has been placed on one year of probation and fined $25,000 following an NCAA investigation that revealed nine coaches and staff made impermissible phone calls to recruits in 2023.
The NCAA’s inquiry uncovered 139 such calls made to 48 prospects, with 60 of these calls lasting a minute or less. The offenses are categorized as Level II violations, which are serious but not the most severe. Notably, former defensive line coach Greg Scruggs and former director of player personnel Max Stienecker received one-year show cause orders. Scruggs now serves as an assistant defensive line coach for the San Francisco 49ers, while Stienecker has taken on a role with USC.
As a result of the investigation, head coach Luke Fickell and outside linebackers/special teams coach Matt Mitchell have been prohibited from engaging in recruiting communications from June 15-21. The NCAA found that Fickell violated head coach responsibility rules, underscoring the importance of compliance in athletics.
Wisconsin’s compliance monitoring systems flagging the violations prompted the university to self-report in September 2023. The school collaborated with NCAA staff during the investigation and imposed penalties voluntarily. Factors contributing to the violations included a new coaching staff’s unfamiliarity with compliance processes and misinterpretations of recruiting rules.
In a statement, Wisconsin asserted its commitment to integrity in athletics, emphasizing proactive measures taken to address the issue. “We believe in doing things the right way, no matter the consequences," the university stated, adding that the violations stemmed from changes in recruiting regulations that have since been resolved.
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