Luke Fickell is reportedly replacing another recruiting staffer ahead of 2026 season

Luke Fickell lost another behind-the-scenes operational staff member from the recruiting department. According to Football Scoop, it appears he will lose Wisconsin's director of on-campus recruiting, Taylor Ewald. She's leaving for the exact same position at Iowa State under new head coach Jimmy Rogers. Ewald plays a vital position even though it's a relatively unheralded position.

Most Wisconsin fans probably haven't heard of her, but she handles the setup of visits, coordinates the on-campus experience, and helps with transcripts and other behind-the-scenes processes. It's a vital role that helps lead to commitments for programs. Often, the goal is to get a recruit to commit before they even leave. That entirely depends on how much they are enjoying the experience.

Taylor Ewald, director of on-campus recruiting, is off to Iowa State in the same position

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It shouldn't be a huge surprise to see Ewald find a new home after a key figure and essentially her boss, Max Stienecker, the Director of Player Personnel, left for USC. The replacement, Ethan Russo, was barely there a year before he left for Oklahoma State. So now, it's Darius Hicks from Michigan State, but also Marcus Sedberry, as there's a bit of a sharing of responsibilities, it seems.

There is clearly a changing of the guard happening in that department. Ewald has seemingly decided to seek a new opportunity under a new head coach and help Iowa State find a new recruiting rhythm.

Luke Fickell will now be working to replace Ewald, who came to Madison in 2023 and was instrumental in helping Fickell lock up each and every recruit that took a visit. Even the ones that Fickell has been able to get to commit this season.

As Fickell gets his team geared up for spring ball and more and more visitors are planning to come and come soon, it's a person who needs to be replaced quickly.