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Category: Athletics

Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell, three other fall sports coaches receive contract extensions

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The University of Wisconsin athletic board on Friday approved contract extensions for four fall sports coaches: Luke Fickell (football), Kelly Sheffield (volleyball), Paula Wilkins (women’s soccer) and Neil Jones (men’s soccer).

Fickell signed a seven-year contract in November 2022. He receives a $100,000 raise and is due to be paid $7.6 million from April 1 of next year through March 31 of 2025.

More studies show younger athletes across sports are at risk of developing brain disease

Wisconsin Public Radio

Julie Stamm researches CTE at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and authored a book called, “The Brain on Youth Sports: The Science, the Myths, and the Future.” During a recent interview with WPR’s “Central Time,” Stamm said the new Boston University study adds to other research undermining a misconception that CTE is only a concern for professional athletes.

“We know that’s not the case,” said Stamm, a clinical assistant professor in the university’s Department of Kinesiology.

Naomi Osaka biography by Ben Rothenberg review

Washington Post

“A journey which I didn’t enjoy ultimately” is how Mari Osaka, who retired from tennis at age 24, describes her unsuccessful pursuit of what Rothenberg calls the “high-risk, high-reward dream of tennis glory.” Time will tell whether it’s a sentiment that Naomi will apply to her own career.

-Ashley Brown is the Allan H. Selig chair in the history of sport and society and an assistant professor of history at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. She is the author of “Serving Herself: The Life and Times of Althea Gibson.”

Wisconsin football is losing assistant coach Colin Hitschler to the new Alabama staff

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Luke Fickell has made two changes to his coaching staff since Wisconsin finished 7-6 in Fickell’s first full season with the Badgers. He will soon have to make a third.

A source confirmed an ESPN report Thursday that Colin Hitschler, UW’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach, is joining Kalen DeBoer’s staff at Alabama.

Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh stresses importance of new football practice facility as donations reach more than 80% of goal

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

According to University of Wisconsin officials, a total of $62.5 million has been raised for funding the new football indoor practice facility adjacent to Camp Randall Stadium.

That amount, bolstered by a $20 million commitment from alums Ted and Mary Kellner, is 83.3% of UW’s goal of $75 million. The fundraising efforts started in late October.

5 ways Herb Kohl impacted sports in Wisconsin

Wisconsin State Journal

The Badgers men’s basketball team ran the risk of capacity for its home games at the UW Field House being downsized from 11,500 to 9,300 in the mid-to-late 1990s. There were safety concerns with the aging facility, and talk of a new venue across campus accelerated.

Kohl, who graduated from UW-Madison in 1956, stepped up with a $25 million gift — the largest ever given to the school at the time — to make it a reality.

Polzin: Placing a spotlight on the Wisconsin football team that changed the program’s trajectory

Wisconsin State Journal

It’s been 30 years since those Badgers changed the trajectory of not only a football program, but the entire athletic department, and you could argue the university as a whole.

I’m excited to let you know that we’re going to celebrate that team this week leading into the 30th anniversary of Wisconsin’s 21-16 win over UCLA in the 1994 Rose Bowl.

Why UW-Madison’s chancellor is uneasy about potential for paying college athletes

Wisconsin State Journal

Courts and Congress likely will have a say in the near future on whether NCAA athletes should be considered employees and whether they should get a share of expanding media rights revenues. The implications are “worrying” for UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin.

“Our student-athletes are also students; they’re primarily students,” Mnookin said in a September interview with BadgerExtra. “We’d actually like them to be students first and foremost. And I have a lot of unease about what the set of spiraling consequences could be if that were to transform.”

Wisconsin volleyball’s star senior headlines group of 4 All-Americans

Wisconsin State Journal

Franklin is one of four Badgers honored by AVCA. Junior Anna Smrek was named to the second team and sophomore Carter Booth earned a spot on the third team. It was the first All-America honor for each. Senior Devyn Robinson received honorable mention, her third All-America award after being voted to the third team in 2020 and 2022.

Here’s what to know about Wisconsin volleyball star Anna Smrek, a Final Four MVP. Her father, Mike, played in NBA

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The last time the University of Wisconsin volleyball team played in the Final Four, Anna Smrek stood tallest, figuratively and literally.

Then a freshman, the 6-9 middle blocker/right side hitter was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player in 2021 after the Badgers defeated Louisville and then Nebraska in five-setters to secure the NCAA championship.