Report: Wisconsin receives punishment from NCAA for recruiting violations

Wisconsin received penalties from the NCAA regarding recruiting violations, the Wisconsin State Journal’s Colton Bartholomew reported. The investigation found a Level II infraction relate to phone calls from staff members.

Wisconsin received a $25,000 financial punishment and is on one-year probation as a result of the violations, the Wisconsin State Journal reported. The NCAA found nine members of the staff called recruits before they were able to do so. That rule has since been changed.

Luke Fickell and outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell will not be allowed to contact high school recruits between Sunday and June 21, the NCAA said. Former defensive line coach Greg Scruggs also received a one-year show-cause and will be suspended for one regular-season game as a result of the investigation. Former Wisconsin player personnel director Max Steinecker – who’s now in the same role at USC – is also facing a one-year show-cause.

All told, 139 calls were made to 48 recruits that were in violation of NCAA rules, and 117 calls came before the calendar allowed them to be made. Additionally, 22 were not allowed because a permissible call to a recruit had already happened between April 15 and May 31, 2023, the Wisconsin State Journal added. The new rules about calls to recruits went into effect Aug. 1, 2023.

“Wisconsin athletics is deeply committed to maintaining the highest level of integrity and holding ourselves accountable,” UW Athletics said in a statement to the Wisconsin State Journal. “We believe in doing things the right way, no matter the consequences.

“The issue at hand occurred two years ago under a rule that was actively being changed and no longer exists. We identified the mistake and were proactive in self-reporting and investigating and resolving the issue.”

Fickell is gearing up for his third season at Wisconsin and is looking to bounce back from an up-and-down 2024 season. The Badgers finished 5-7 and saw quarterback Tyler Van Dyke go down with a season-ending injury. Van Dyke later transferred to SMU.

UW then underwent major changes, particularly on offense. Fickell moved on from offensive coordinator Phil Longo and his Air Raid scheme, opting to bring in Jeff Grimes from Kansas to take the role.

Under Longo’s watch in 2024, Wisconsin ranked 11th in the Big Ten with 350.3 total yards per game and 13th in the league with 22.6 points per game. Kansas, meanwhile, averaged 420.2 yards per game to rank middle-of-the-pack in the Big 12 while scoring 29.7 points per game.