Luke Fickell speaks after being introduced as Wisconsin’s new head coach

LUKE: THE LUXURY OF STICKING AROUND HERE QUITE A WHILE, THEY HAVE TO FINISH UP SCHOOL BEFORE WE GET THE WHOLE CREW HERE, BUT THAT GIVES ME A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND TIME DIVING INTO THIS ENTIRE PROGRAM, TO EVERY YOUNG MAN ON THE TEAM AS FAR AS HIM OBVIOUSLY, THE GUYS WHO ARE HERE NOW AND THE ONES RECRUITED MOVING FORWARD. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A WHIRLWIND, FOR EVERYONE IN HERE, WHEN YOU END A SEASON AND THINGS TURN AROUND FAST AND QUICK, BUT IT IS THE WORLD WE LIVE IN. IT IS THINGS WE HAVE TO DO TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR PROGRAM, OUR KIDS TO GIVE THEM CLARITY AND MOVE FORWARD. THAT IS MY GREATEST OBJECTIVE RIGHT NOW. I SPENT FOUR HOURS OR FIVE HOURS TODAY SITTING WITH AS MANY KIDS AS I COULD, AND THAT IS WHAT I WILL CONTINUE TO DO. GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND EXCITED ABOUT IT. >> WITH THAT, WE WILL START WITH QUESTIONS. RAISE YOUR HAND, IDENTIFY YOURSELF. >> LUKE, YOU MENTIONED IT UPSTAIRS, BUT YOU WILL NOT MAKE OUTLANDISH PREDICTIONS, BUT YOU PLAYED AND COACHED AT A PLACE WHERE EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH, AND WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THIS PROGRAM NOW THAT YOU ARE HERE, AND DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THE GROUND TO GET IT TO WHERE YOU WANTED TO BE? LUKE: NO, I DON’T KNOW. I KNOW THERE IS ALWAYS WORK TO BE DONE AND THAT IS WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT IT. YOU CAN BEAT ANY PROGRAM AND YOU ARE NOT WHERE YOU WANT TO BE. THEY HAVE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO REPEAT WHAT THEY ARE DOING, SO IT IS THE UNIQUENESS OF WHAT IT IS WE CHOOSE TO DO, SO FOR ME, I WILL BE HONEST, YOU WILL PROBABLY HEAR IT EVERY YEAR, WE HAVE ONE OBJECTIVE AND ONE GOAL, TO PLAY FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. I SAID THAT OBVIOUSLY WHEN I STARTED AT CINCINNATI, AND THAT IS OPEN-ENDED, BUT IT GIVES YOU A LOT OF FLEX ABILITY. IF YOU ARE PLAYING FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP, AMAZING THINGS CAN HAPPEN AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE FOCUSED AND THAT IS WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO. >> HEY, COACH. WELCOME TO MADISON. I DON’T KNOW IF THE FINAL STRAW IS THE RIGHT WORD BUT WHAT IS THE FINAL THING THAT BROUGHT YOU HERE TO MADISON AND LET’S MOVE TO MADISON? LUKE: IS THERE ONE STROKE? I DON’T KNOW THAT THERE IS. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A GREAT FONDNESS FOR THE PROGRAM, THE CULTURE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. TIMING HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT, I THINK. THE CHANGING WORLD OF WHAT COLLEGES, AND TO ME, WHAT WISCONSIN IS WILLING TO CONTINUE TO DO, AND WE HAVE ALL GOT TO UNDERSTAND AND RECOGNIZE WHAT CHANGES FOR THESE YOUNG MEN AND ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE THOSE STEPS TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY FOR CHAMPION -- CHAMPIONSHIPS, I MAY BE THE FINAL STRAW IS A RELATIONSHIP THAT I WILL HAVE WITH MAC AT FINDING WAYS TO DEVELOP AND MOVE THIS PROGRAM FORWARD. HE KNOWS WHAT IT IS ABOUT. HE KNOWS WHAT IT HAS BEEN. I THINK THAT IS A UNIQUE SITUATION FOR ME. I HAVE NEVER HAD THAT. I AM EXCITED FOR THAT, WHETHER THAT IS THE FINA

Video: Luke Fickell speaks after being introduced as Wisconsin's new head coach

Updated: 7:07 PM EST Nov 28, 2022

Cincinnati head football coach Luke Fickell is leaving the Bearcats to take the head coaching job at the University of Wisconsin.Watch the University of Wisconsin press conference where they will introduce Fickell in video player aboveCornerbacks and special teams coach Kerry Coombs has been named as UC's interim head coach. Fickell, the winningest head coach in Bearcat history, went 57-18 in 75 games at UC, taking the Bearcats to five-straight bowl games. Bowl trips include a New Year's Six appearance in the 2021 Peach Bowl and the Cotton Bowl as part of the 2022 College Football Playoff.Wisconsin, who went 6-6 this year, saw head coach Paul Chryst get fired after starting the year 2-3. This year was just the second time under Chryst the Badgers failed to win eight games, though the program hasn't won 10 games for three-straight years, a streak not seen since the 2001-2004 seasons, all under Barry Alvarez.A native of Columbus, Fickell is familiar with the Big Ten: He played four years for Ohio State before returning to the Buckeyes as a position coach in 2002 and stayed on staff until 2016, including serving as interim head coach in 2011, where he went 6-7 and led the Buckeyes to a 33-29 win over a 12th-ranked Wisconsin team at The Horseshoe.Since taking over at UC in 2017, 17 Bearcats have been taken in the NFL draft, including a program-record nine players selected this past year.

CINCINNATI —

Cincinnati head football coach Luke Fickell is leaving the Bearcats to take the head coaching job at the University of Wisconsin.

Watch the University of Wisconsin press conference where they will introduce Fickell in video player above

Cornerbacks and special teams coach Kerry Coombs has been named as UC's interim head coach.

Fickell, the winningest head coach in Bearcat history, went 57-18 in 75 games at UC, taking the Bearcats to five-straight bowl games. Bowl trips include a New Year's Six appearance in the 2021 Peach Bowl and the Cotton Bowl as part of the 2022 College Football Playoff.

Wisconsin, who went 6-6 this year, saw head coach Paul Chryst get fired after starting the year 2-3. This year was just the second time under Chryst the Badgers failed to win eight games, though the program hasn't won 10 games for three-straight years, a streak not seen since the 2001-2004 seasons, all under Barry Alvarez.

A native of Columbus, Fickell is familiar with the Big Ten: He played four years for Ohio State before returning to the Buckeyes as a position coach in 2002 and stayed on staff until 2016, including serving as interim head coach in 2011, where he went 6-7 and led the Buckeyes to a 33-29 win over a 12th-ranked Wisconsin team at The Horseshoe.

Since taking over at UC in 2017, 17 Bearcats have been taken in the NFL draft, including a program-record nine players selected this past year.