Institution: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Date: June 12, 2025

Violation Summary: Pursuant to Bylaw 19.10.6, this negotiated resolution has no precedential value. Recruiting violations occurred at Wisconsin when nine football coaches and staff members placed impermissible phone calls to prospects. As a result of the violations, football head coach Luke Fickell violated head coach responsibility rules. Specifically, the school, assistant football coach Matt Mitchell, former assistant coach Greg Scruggs, former director of player personnel Max Stienecker and the enforcement staff agreed that the violations occurred when staff placed 139 impermissible phone calls to 48 prospects. Of the impermissible calls, 117 were placed prior to the first permissible contact date for the prospects. Sixty of the calls lasted one minute or less.

Penalty Summary: One year of probation; a $25,000 fine; a one-year show-cause order for Scruggs. During that time, any employing member school will restrict him from engaging in recruiting communication for two months and will suspend him from one regular-season contest; a one-year show-cause order for Stienecker. During that time, any employing member school will restrict him from all recruiting communications with high school prospects from June 15-21, 2025; a prohibition of recruiting communications for three weeks during the 2023-24 academic year (self-imposed by the school); a reduction in fall evaluation days by three and a reduction in spring recruiting person days by nine during the 2023-24 academic year (self-imposed by the school); and a prohibition for Fickell and Mitchell from recruiting communications with high school prospects for one week from June 15-21, 2025.

Involved Sports:
Football

Case Level: II

Involved Penalties:

---