Wisconsin Football Loses a Key Assistant Coach to Big Ten Program

Greg Scruggs’ departure from the Wisconsin football program feels like a somewhat notable loss for the Badgers, at least on the recruiting front.

In his first full recruiting cycle with the Badgers, Scruggs landed two four-star defensive linemen in Ernest Willor Jr. and Dillan Johnson. For context, Wisconsin had only landed two composite four-star DLs since 2016.

Scruggs, a former defensive tackle for the Louisville Cardinals, is a fast-rising assistant who brings a diversity of experience to his new coaching role, having served as the Director of Player Development at the University of Cincinnati before being promoted to full-time DL coach. He then became an assistant DL coach for the Jets for a season before joining Wisconsin.

Nevertheless, the allure of a new opportunity at a prestigious program like Michigan, the easier recruiting sell, and the potential for career advancement and financial gain made this a no-brainer move for Scruggs. It’s important to recognize that the departed staff members aren’t necessarily “Wisconsin guys” and are simply working their way up the ladder through opportunities at more prestigious programs.

Luke Fickell will now have to begin his fourth assistant coaching search this offseason for the Wisconsin Badgers football team. Fickell has a solid track record for hiring quality assistant coaches, so I have no doubt he’ll be able to find a reliable replacement.