The Ohio State football program had Luke Fickell part of its staff for many years. For most of his tenure with the Buckeyes, he was the defensive coordinator. He was also briefly the head coach for the team during the 2011 season, right after Jim Tressel was fired.
Fickell decided to leave the Ohio State Buckeyes following the 2016 season. Now, he is the head coach of Wisconsin. For the last few years, Fickell has struggled to win enough games for the Badgers. Last season, his team finished just 4-8, although he received a vote of confidence.
Despite the terrible record, the Badgers have stood by Fickell. Ohio State destroyed the Badgers last season by a score of 34-0, and it looked like that could have been Fickell's last game. Instead, he was actually offered an extension. Fickell decided to refuse it, though.
Former Ohio State football coach Luke Fickell refused contract extension
According to a report, Fickell decided not to get a one-year extension. He decided that he didn't deserve it, so he asked Wisconsin not to put it up for discussion. Fickell is just 17-21 in his tenure with the Badgers so far. They have not come close to competing in the Big Ten.
When Fickell was with the Buckeyes, he was very well-liked. He was a hard-working coach and player with the Buckeyes. Fickell clearly didn't feel like he had earned an extension, so he will try to do so on the field next season. The 2026 season could prove to be critical for him.
Wisconsin has pledged to help him more with NIL funding and to do whatever it can to improve the success of the on-field product. While Wisconsin avoids playing Ohio State next season, they still have to face Notre Dame, Penn State, USC, and Iowa.
It doesn't seem like Fickell is in danger of being fired after next year, but the fans could start mounting some pressure on him if the Badgers don't improve next year.