Wisconsin Hires Luke Fickell: REPORT

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The Wisconsin Badgers are reportedly hiring Luke Fickell as the next head coach of the program.

Following a 6-6 season after the firing of Paul Chryst and the elevation of Jim Leonhard to the interim position, the Badgers and AD Chris McIntosh have decided to hire Fickell as the new head coach of the program, according to Tom Oates.

ESPN reported earlier Sunday that the two sides were moving towards a deal, but nothing had been finalized. Now, it appears it's all but officially announced. That official announcement could come later today.

Will Wisconsin hire Luke Fickell? The Badgers are reportedly targeting the Cincy coach. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Saturday night, the Badgers lost a rivalry matchup to Minnesota, and many expected Jim Leonhard to be announced as the permanent coach in the immediate aftermath.

When that didn't happen, speculation started swirling about what might be going on behind closed doors. Now, it looks like fans have their answer.

McIntosh and the Wisconsin Badgers might be totally off Leonhard and now aiming to score Fickell.

Is Wisconsin done with Jim Leonhard? The team finished the regular season 6-6. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)

Would Luke Fickell make sense for Wisconsin?

If Fickell is successfully hired by Wisconsin, it would be a gigantic move for the program. Fickell is a proven winner, and he's turned the Bearcats into a G5 powerhouse.

In his six years at Cincy, Fickell is a very impressive 57-18 with a CFP appearance last season. Imagine what he could do with significantly more resources in the B1G with the Badgers.

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The Wisconsin Badgers are interested in Luke Fickell. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

I like Jim Leonhard a lot and think he's a great coach. However, if Wisconsin can land Luke Fickell, the Badgers simply have to do it. He's one of the best coaches in America and signing him would send the clear message Wisconsin is here to compete for titles. Hopefully, Leonhard sticks around as the DC of the Badgers. Either way, a new era of Wisconsin football is here.

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David Hookstead is a reporter for OutKick covering a variety of topics with a focus on football and culture. He also hosts of the podcast American Joyride that is accessible on Outkick where he interviews American heroes and outlines their unique stories. Before joining OutKick, Hookstead worked for the Daily Caller for seven years covering similar topics. Hookstead is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin.