Luke Fickell's era begins in Madison

 

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- A new era of Wisconsin Badgers football has begun. 

Less than 48 hours after Wisconsin lost to Minnesota, the program turns to Luke Fickell to build something new.

New Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell says he has one goal in Madison -- play for championships.

"You have an opportunity in this league if you're playing for a championship," said Fickell. "Amazing things can happen. You just have to stay focused and know that's what it's gonna come down to."

The Badgers rolled out the red carpet from a jet Sunday night to a media tour Monday. But the most important time came earlier when Fickell spoke to players for about five hours. 

He says it helped him realize how special Madison is and emphasized that he is in the right place.

"Trust, respect and love," said Fickell. "I know from visiting with these guys the last few hours that's what that locker room is built on. Now you have a new guy that's walking in completely different, and they don't know me. There's things that have to be done to build those bonds."

"As Luke and I spent more time together it became clear that we see the world in a very similar way," said Chris McIntosh, Wisconsin director of athletics. "We see the potential in a program like ours in a very similar way. We have the same expectations. Championship level expectations."

McIntosh says this hire proves Wisconsin is playing to win as they signed Fickell for seven years and a little less than $55 million. 

"It became so evident during Covid this program is the lifeblood, the financial engine that underwrites the cost of opportunity for 800 kids, and it needs to be operating at a championship level," said McIntosh. 

As for the immediate future, Fickell says he plans to coach in some capacity at Wisconsin's bowl game and he is talking to interim head coach and longtime defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard about possibly staying on, but nothing is decided yet.