Wisconsin negotiating cope with Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell as soccer coach

The Wisconsin Badgers are negotiating a cope with Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell in an effort to rent him as their subsequent head soccer coach, an individual with information of the scenario instructed The Related Press on Sunday.

The deal was not executed, however Fickell has emerged because the main candidate. Discussions between the varsity and Bearcats’ head coach have been in progress, stated the individual, who spoke to the AP on situation of anonymity as a result of the varsity was not making public particulars of its search.

ESPN first reported Wisconsin’s negotiations with Fickell.

Fickell, 49, has posted a 57-18 document in six seasons at Cincinnati. His 2021 group went 13-0 within the common season and have become the primary Group of 5 group to achieve the Faculty Soccer Playoff, the place it misplaced to Alabama within the Cotton Bowl.

That 2021 Cincinnati group produced 9 draft picks for the third-highest complete of any faculty that season, behind solely Georgia’s 15 and LSU’s 10. 5 Cincinnati gamers have been chosen among the many prime 100 total picks.

The previous Ohio State linebacker went 6-7 because the Buckeyes’ interim head coach in 2011, after Jim Tressel’s resignation.

Fickell would take over for Paul Chryst, who went 67-26 in 7 1/2 seasons. Chryst was fired on Oct. 2, at some point after the Badgers misplaced 34-10 at dwelling to an Illinois group led by former Badgers coach Bret Bielema.

Wisconsin’s Board of Regents scheduled a particular closed assembly for Sunday afternoon “to think about employment and extra compensation agreements for the UW-Madison head soccer coach,” based on a gathering discover posted online.

Wisconsin (6-6, 4-5 Massive Ten) is awaiting its bowl project. A loss of their bowl recreation would trigger the Badgers to complete under .500 for the primary time since 2001.

Fickell may face an instantaneous take a look at profitable over a roster that has spent the final month or so brazenly calling for interim head coach Jim Leonhard to get the job completely.

Leonhard was promoted from defensive coordinator after Chryst’s firing and led Wisconsin to a 4-3 document over the ultimate seven video games of the common season. Leonhard stated Saturday after the Badgers’ 23-16 dwelling loss to Minnesota that he had interviewed with athletic director Chris McIntosh earlier within the week.

“I believe whoever hires coaches goes to be an fool in the event that they don’t rent coach Leonhard,” security John Torchio stated after the Minnesota recreation. “I don’t know if I ought to say that, however I’ll say it.”

Reporting by The Related Press.

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