The Wisconsin Badgers have decided to make a massive coaching change after stalling in the second-half of a should-be win once again.
The Badgers have had quite the tumultuous season throughout 2024 which has seen the team nearly defeat big schools such as USC, Penn State, and now Oregon. However, the Badgers came up short each time and the offense was largely to blame in each loss. With the team losing games and both the administration and fans expecting changes, the Wisconsin Badgers have thinned the staff.
Wisconsin has decided to part ways with offensive coordinator Phil Longo, who formerly worked for the UNC Tar Heels. Longo is largely credited with the development of both quarterbacks Drake Maye and Sam Howell, which allowed the coordinator the develop a reputation of being a “quarterback guru”. However, the quarterback play has been nothing but disappointing since the hire of Longo, which has seriously held back the team from reaching new heights.
The firing of Longo comes on the heels of a near win over the top-ranked Oregon Ducks that resulted in a loss for the Badgers. Wisconsin dropped to 5-5 on the season while the Ducks escaped a game where the team had a rare off night on offense.
The Wisconsin Badgers were unable to capitalize, scoring 13-points early in the game before completing stalling on offense. The play-calling of Wisconsin was largely criticized as the team felt like a broken record, trying to same plays over and over again. Perhaps the story of the season has been the struggles on offense which are in part due to the fact that the play-calling has been subpar.
Another glaring issue on offense has been the development of quarterback Braedyn Locke who was previously a prized transfer commitment. The quarterback was supposed to be the prototypical quarterback that Longo need in his offense, but has not played nearly as well as the team expected. The development, or lack there of, falls largely on the shoulders Longo as the coach was tasked with the development of the quarterback room.
What Does the Firing of the Wisconsin Badgers Offensive Coordinator Phil Longo Mean?
With Longo gone for the Wisconsin Badgers, it likely will mean two things for the team moving forward through this season and the future.
While Longo has had success in the past, the coach has also had his fair share of struggles which has largely summed up his tenure with the Badgers. Longo never quite found a rhythm on offense with Wisconsin, and Locke was never able to fully blossom. Without Longo, the future of Locke becomes much more bleak as the quarterback could soon find himself benched.
Along with the Locke potentially benched, the Wisconsin Badgers will also have to think about the quarterback commitments they have. 2026 commitment Jarin Mock spoke very highly of Longo, and the coordinator was a large part of the reason as to why the quarterback chose Wisconsin. Longo may not have had much success with the Wisconsin Badgers, but still has been known to be a respected coach in the recruiting world.
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