Wisconsin Football: NCAA Penalties & Impermissible Calls
Wisconsin Badgers football faces a year of probation and a $25,000 fine following an NCAA investigation into recruiting violations. The infraction: impermissible phone calls too 48 prospects during the 2023 season, hindering the team’s NCAA recruiting efforts. The NCAA found 139 calls breached recruiting rules, stemming from staff misunderstanding. Former staff members, including Greg Scruggs and Max Stienecker, received show-cause orders. Head coach Luke Fickell and assistant Matt Mitchell faced recruiting restrictions. The university self-reported the violations,showing a commitment to integrity. The violations occurred under a changing rule, and Wisconsin collaborated fully. Learn how this impacts the program’s future and recruiting strategies. For more on college football,visit News Directory 3.Discover what’s next for the Badgers.
Wisconsin Badgers Football Program Hit With NCAA Recruiting Penalties
Updated June 13, 2025
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Badgers football program is facing penalties after an NCAA investigation uncovered recruiting violations. The NCAA has placed the program on one year of probation and issued a $25,000 fine. The investigation centered on impermissible phone calls made by coaches and staff to recruits during the 2023 season, impacting the team’s NCAA recruiting efforts.
The NCAA Division I committee on Infractions determined that 139 impermissible phone calls were made to 48 prospects,with 60 of those calls lasting less than a minute. The NCAA violations stemmed from a misunderstanding of recruiting call rules and unfamiliarity with the school’s compliance processes among the new staff.
As a result of the investigation, former defensive line coach Greg Scruggs, now with the San Francisco 49ers, and former director of player personnel Max Stienecker, currently USC’s executive director of personnel, each received one-year show cause orders. Head coach Luke Fickell and outside linebackers/special teams coach Matt Mitchell also faced restrictions, prohibited from recruiting communications with high school prospects for a week in June.
The university self-reported the violations in September 2023 after its compliance monitoring systems detected the issues. Wisconsin also self-imposed penalties while cooperating with the NCAA staff throughout the investigation.
“Wisconsin Athletics is deeply committed to maintaining the highest level of integrity and holding ourselves accountable,” the school said in a statement. “We believe in doing things the right way,no matter the consequences.”
The university added that the violations occurred under a rule that was being actively changed and no longer exists. The school emphasized its proactive approach in self-reporting, investigating, and resolving the issue of NCAA violations.
What’s next
Wisconsin will serve its probation and pay the fine. The program will likely review and reinforce its compliance procedures to prevent future recruiting violations.