3 Coaches Luke Fickell Should Keep on Wisconsin Football Staff
Here is a look at three assistant coaches Wisconsin Badgers head coach Luke Fickell should retain on his staff at UW.
Madison, Wis. – Now that Wisconsin football has its head coach in place, the next step for Luke Fickell is recruiting his own roster (player retention) and building his ideal coaching staff.
One thing we know, UW Athletic Director Chris McIntosh has high expectations for the Badgers under coach Fickell – the contract shelled out by the University proves that. But with great contract comes great responsibility. He has seven years to turn the program around and contend for championships – that's the expectation.
UW hasn't won a Big Ten West title in three years, so Badger fans would probably allow for one or two more absences while he builds a foundation for the future. However, when you're paying a coach more than $7.5 million like Fickell is, a bowl game appearance will quickly lose its luster if UW doesn't find its way to Indianapolis in short order.
One thing we learned from the Paul Chryst era (and just in general) is that the assistant coaching staff is vitally important to the success of a program. I'm optimistic about the additions Fickell will make, but here are three UW assistant coaches that he should consider keeping on staff.
Bobby April III, OLB coach
Wisconsin Badgers outside linebacker coach Bobby April III is one coach I'd love to see retained. He's been at UW for five seasons, has shown recruiting chops, a strong track record of player development, and even interviewed for the Michigan defensive coordinator vacancy the last offseason. He has NFL coaching experience and is damn good at his job.
April III mentored and developed players like Andre Van Ginkel, Zack Baun, and, more recently, Nick Herbig into NFL-caliber talents.
I wouldn't be surprised if Coach Fickell attempts to keep him around, given his track record. And for the sake of the Badgers' edge rushers, I hope he considers. Coach April has also done an incredible job as the run-game coordinator + could help ease the transition on UW's defense.