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Luke Fickell’s massive buyout sparks speculation on Badgers next coach

Wisconsin would owe Luke Fickell 80 percent of his remaining contract if it made a move. According to USA Today, when the 2025 season concludes, Fickell will still have four years and more than 30 million dollars left on his deal. That places his buyout at more than 25 million dollars, a staggering figure that makes any decision costly. In today’s college football, even numbers that large do not silence speculation.

At the top of any list sits Lance Leipold, the Wisconsin native who built a dynasty at UW Whitewater and has engineered turnarounds at Buffalo and Kansas. NC State’s Dave Doeren, a Madison product who cut his teeth on Bret Bielema’s staff, also represents a steady hand with Big Ten ties. Jim Leonhard, the former defensive coordinator, remains the fan favorite. Though passed over once in 2022, his deep ties to the program ensure he will always be in the conversation. Rising star Jake Dickert, now at Wake Forest, adds another hometown connection. Born in Wisconsin and molded by UW Stevens Point, his defensive pedigree fits the Badger identity.

Additionally, names such as Matt Campbell of Iowa State and Chris Klieman of Kansas State carry weight. Both are known for maximizing talent and playing a brand of football aligned with Wisconsin’s blue-collar style.

Sad about the Badgers. This sucks

— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) September 20, 2025

Andy Kotelnicki is the curveball. Every year there's a coach or two who seem to be on the head coaching hype train and Kotelnicki definitely has the momentum behind him to land a big job.

Now Penn State’s offensive coordinator, he was Lance Leipold’s closest assistant and has strong Wisconsin ties. Although his Nittany Lion offense has not taken off yet, Kotelnicki’s Wisconsin River Falls roots make him an intriguing wild card.

Then come the names that make boosters perk up. Jon Gruden, though polarizing, would deliver instant headlines. Mike McCarthy, now out of the NFL after leaving the Cowboys last year, remains a Super Bowl-winning coach with deep Green Bay ties. His name would bring instant credibility if he wanted to return to the sidelines. Deion Sanders would be the flashiest hire in school history, a radical shift from traditional Badger football but a guarantee of national relevance.

Wisconsin’s future may still rest with Luke Fickell, but if things go south the Badgers will have no shortage of options. They range from safe hometown choices to headline-grabbing gambles.