This is the last thing the Wisconsin Badgers need to be dealing with ahead of the upcoming meeting with No. 1 Oregon on Saturday night. Some worrisome news has come in on veteran coach Jack Del Rio, who's currently working on Luke Fickell's staff as a senior advisor.
According to a report from the Wisconsin State Journal's Colton Bartholomew, Del Rio was arrested last week early Friday morning on charges of operating while intoxicated. Del Rio, per Bartholomew, was taken to a local hospital after he drove his car into a street sign and broke a fence. His vehicle came to a complete stop in someone's yard.
#Badgers football staffer Jack Del Rio was arrested for OWI last week. Here's what we know: https://t.co/cK6ORbyeCk
— Colten Bartholomew (@CBartWSJ) November 11, 2024
Wisconsin's Jack Del Rio arrested for OWI during the Badgers' bye week
"Del Rio, 61, was driving in the area of South Segoe Road and Keating Terrace around 12:35 a.m. Friday when his vehicle hit a street sign, broke a fence and came to a rest in a yard, according to a Madison Police Department incident report," Bartholomew is reporting. "Witnesses directed officers to Del Rio, who was walking away from the area. Del Rio was transported to a local hospital for a blood draw and released to a responsible party, per the incident report."
Shortly after the news broke, Fickell stepped in and said that Del Rio will be resigning from his position with the Badgers. That news is not surprising, but this is indeed rough news for the program as they get ready for one of the biggest games of the season.
The Badgers are getting ready to take on the Ducks following back-to-back losses to the Hawkeyes and Nittany Lions. The 42-10 loss to Iowa was embarrassing. However, the Del Rio arrest has brought even more negative attention to the university. As it turns out, it has also cost him his job too.