Overview
- The UW athletic board granted one-year extensions to volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield and soccer coaches Paula Wilkins and Neil Jones, but not to Fickell.
- AD Chris McIntosh said Fickell asked in December that no extension be presented this year and reiterated that the coach retains the department’s full support.
- Fickell previously received one-year add-ons after the 2023 and 2024 seasons, with his contract reported to run through either 2031 or March 2032.
- An open-records review by the Journal Sentinel found last year’s approved extension had not yet been executed when the contract was re-obtained in January.
- Wisconsin went 4-8 in 2025 after a 5-7 finish in 2024, leaving Fickell 17-21 at UW, as the department increases investment and the roster was retooled with more than 30 transfers.