Wisconsin reportedly tried to tempt John Settle into staying before he took Kentucky RB job

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Kentucky beat out Wisconsin for a top-tier running backs coach.

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, the Badgers tried to “entice” its running backs coach, John Settle, into staying in Madison before he ultimately decided to take the same position with the Wildcats. Early on Friday morning, KSR reported Settle would likely take the Kentucky job and multiple outlets have since done the same.

News of Settle’s departure began circulating Thursday night and was widely reported Friday morning, but it wasn’t official until Friday afternoon as multiple State Journal sources said UW tried to entice Settle to stay. Details of those efforts weren’t revealed. [Wisconsin State Journal]

Kentucky has yet to confirm the news, but all signs are pointing to Settle joining head coach Mark Stoops and the rest of the Wildcat coaching staff. This hiring comes after Stoops initially added Jemal Singleton from the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 7 to take over as the running backs coach, however, Singleton left for the Philadelphia Eagles on Feb. 8, roughly one month after taking the job in Lexington.

The State Journal also reports that Settle made $462,000 in 2020, indicating that Kentucky might have been able to make him an offer that Wisconsin could not or would not match. For reference, Singleton was set to make somewhere in the $500,000 range at Kentucky. Settle spent a total of 11 seasons with the Badgers, including the previous six under head coach Paul Chryst.

In his time at Wisconsin, Settle has coached the likes of two-time unanimous first-team All American and Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, All-Big Ten running back Corey Clement, three-time Super Bowl champion James White, Jacksonville Jaguars running back Dare Ogunbowale, Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold and Pittsburgh Steelers fullback Derek Watt.

Wisconsin has now lost three assistant coaches since the 2020 season came to an end on Dec. 30.

[Wisconsin State Journal]