Wisconsin Head Coach Luke Fickell Can't Confirm His Job Status For 2026
MADISON, Wis.– Monday morning, Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh sent out a letter to the fans, standing behind head coach Luke Fickell despite the team’s 2-5 overall record. McIntosh also noted a signficiant financial investment being pumped into th program to give Fickell the tools he needs in the future.
Many took that to mean that Fickell, who is in his third year with the Badgers, would be back coaching in 2026. Fickell, however, could not confirm that notion during Monday’s weekly press conference.
“I’ve never asked the question. Not something that I can dwell upon. I can’t tell you that it’s not something that you don’t think about,” Fickell told reporters. “I’m not saying it’s something when you go home your wife doesn’t look at you, but it doesn’t do us any good, right? it’s not going to change the fact that we got to practice tomorrow. It’s not going to change the fact of anything on Saturday. I guess, you just let everybody else kind of deal with those things.
“But I have not been told. I’m not worried about that. I mean, I understand if we don’t meet expectations, if we don’t do the things we need to do, anything can happen.”
MORE: Chris McIntosh Issues Statement to Wisconsin Fan Base
Wisconsin fell to 15-18 under Fickell following Saturday’s 34-0 loss. Including the 37-0 defeat at the hands of Iowa in week seven, the Badgers have dropped their last two games by a combined score of 71. It also marked the first time since 1968 in which UW has been shut out in back-to-back home games. Under Fickell, the Badgers are also 0-9 versus ranked opponents.
In his address, McIntosh stated: “Coach Fickell sees the potential in what this team can be, as do I, and he shares the same disappointment and frustration. Our student-athletes continue to stand and fight with character and pride as they battle through this moment of adversity, and they deserve all our support.”
“All support is good support, right? I mean, obviously, as you go through these things, I think that for me — he didn’t have to put a letter out for me to know,” Fickell said of McIntosh’s statement. “Having honest conversations with him throughout this entire process is something that keeps me in the in the right frame of mind and the right headspace. You’ve asked about different things that are swirling out there, and whatever it is, yeah, it affects you. But you know, when you’ve got a guy you trust, the guy that you call a friend, that obviously can sit down and have some conversations with, you know where you are, it helps.
“There’s never been a waiver here of knowing who’s got your back. We all have the same expectations. Chris McIntosh and I can talk honestly and openly about where we are, where we’ve made mistakes, and and and things like that. And for me, that’s the, probably the healthiest thing I’ve got going.”
Wisconsin will return to action on Saturday at No. 6 Oregon (7-1, 4-1). Kick off is set for 6 p.m. CT from Autzen Stadium.
