Recently fired LSU coach Brian Kelly has been slammed in the media lately for his treatment of former players. Not allowing them around, speaking to the players, and all sorts of other poor relations. Many former players have spoken openly and honestly about this fact. Now, a former Badger is speaking out against Luke Fickell with a similar concern.
According to Collin Wilder, who played for Wisconsin from 2016 to 2021, Fickell doesn't reach out to former players, and his staff acts weird about them being around practices and the facility. He joined ESPN Madison, and the full interview is worth a listen, but he is concerned about that part of Fickell's coaching.
"𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐄... 𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐒𝐀𝐃."@WilderCollin speaks on the disconnect between Luke Fickell's current coaching staff and Badger football alums, including how he and some former players haven't felt welcome around the program 😬 pic.twitter.com/hJYbFE0TZD
— ESPN Madison (@ESPNMadison) October 30, 2025
Collin Wilder expresses concerns about Luke Fickell's treatment of former Wisconsin players
Related: Pat McAfee drops a not so subtle hint to J.J. Watt about Badger football's problems
There's growing concern about Luke Fickell's leadership, as this season hasn't taken a step forward, and many argue it's actually gone backwards. The Badgers are 2-6, and many fans don't expect Wisconsin to win another game this season. So, these new concerns about how he treats alumni add fuel to the fire.
Wilder didn't hold back as he expressed the growing concern among former players.
"I don't expect Luke Fickell to reach out to me. I'm not Zack Baun, I'm not TJ Watt, I'm not JJ. I don't expect him to call me on the phone but if you're the head coach and you've got those big time names being successful in the league. Those are my first phone calls I would make to build that bridge, to build those relationships. From what I've heard he hasn't reached out to these guys as much as we think. "Collin Wilder on ESPN Madison
He goes on to say that he doesn't expect the royal treatment or the red carpet when he comes around the facility, but he does want to be welcomed, "right now, I just don't."
One of the major concerns for Brian Kelly was this exact thing at LSU, and part of what led him to be fired. The lack of culture, winning, and relationships in and out of the program. Does this not sound familiar to Luke Fickell? It's just one more damning indictment of Fickell and his program.