MADISON – Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell added a handful of new positions to his coaching staff during the offseason.
Bob Ligashesky could end up paying the most dividends.
The volume of special teams snaps during a game pale in comparison to the offense or defense, but those plays can have an inordinate impact. Though UW has valued of the third phase of the game, it didn’t have a coach dedicated only to coordinating it during the Luke Fickell era until this season.
Previously special teams coordination was split between Fickell and outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell.
It’s Ligashesky’s show now.
“I think that’s something that I kind of say maybe we didn’t have or didn’t do a good enough job of when it was Coach Mitch and me,” Fickell said. “Not that we weren’t focused on it, but I’m talking every day, all day. I just think it gives us a better opportunity to make sure we’re evaluating those things and the guys that are on it, the techniques and the things that we need to be able to do.”
Ligashesky came to Wisconsin after spending the past two seasons at Minnesota.
He has 38 years of experience that include 27 as a special teams coordinator in college and seven in the NFL. He won a Super Bowl with Pittsburgh in 2009.
His mission at Wisconsin is simple.
“I think most of us as coaches, when a head coach or other people watch your tape, you hope that they see that your kids know what they’re doing,” Ligashesky said. “They know how to do it with technique, and they play hard.”
While Ligashesky has been involved with special teams at almost every one of his coaching stops, early in his career he was also a position coach. He worked with linebackers, outside linebackers and tight ends over the years.
Special teams appealed to him because it allowed him to connect with the entire team.
“I really like to enjoy the relationships that you’re able to develop with all positions right there,” Ligashesky said. “Then again, coaching special teams, it gives you an opportunity to work at every level: high school, college and NFL.
“I just thought that was a good opportunity to have a chance to be at every level and then a chance to interact with everybody on the football team.”
With Ligashesky on board Fickell has taken one thing off his plate as he tries to put the Badgers in position to bounce back from back-to-back losing seasons. Mitchell, has been able to focus more on recruiting and take on a new role as associate head coach.
Ligashesky, meanwhile, quickly made an impact, according to Henry.
“I think he’s just brought in a different type of edge,” Henry said. “The way we play special team is smash mouth. We want to get nasty, get dirty, but I think that Lig has brought in a nice fundamental technique to it that maybe I haven’t heard. I’ve been returning for a long time, and some things that he’s taught me have been a little different.”
Wisconsin special teams depth chart
Place kicker
First team
Gavin Lahm, grad student, 6-1, 218: Redshirt last season for the chance to handle kicking duties this year.
Second team
Brady Melum, Fr., 6-0, 221: Walk-on from Sun Prairie East.
Punter
First team
Sean West, R-soph., 6-2, 205: Averaged 47.7 yards per punt last season wth 10 inside 20.
Second team
Eithan Tranel, R-jr., 6-1, 225: Transfer from UW-LaCrosse who averaged 41.8 yards per punt last season with 18 inside the 20.
Long snapper
First team
Andrew Goodman, R-sr., 5-11, 223: Redshirt last season.
Second team
James Roe, jr., 6-0, 219: Transfer from Toledo.
Punt returner
First team
Tyrell Henry, R-sr., 6-0, 184: Returned a team-high 10 punts for an average of 8.7 yards per return last season.
Second team
Eugene Hilton Jr., soph., 6-2, 204: Took reps at the position during the spring but hasn’t return a punt in a game.
Kickoff returner
First team
Eugene Hilton Jr., R-sr., 6-0, 184: Showed potential for the job with a kickoff return for a touchdown during the kicking scrimmage in the spring.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How Bob Ligashesky brings added focus to Wisconsin’s special teams
Reporting by Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
