Mickey Turner is in his eighth season on staff at Wisconsin in 2022, his first leading the Badgers' recruiting efforts.
In his seven seasons as tight ends coach, Turner helped the Badgers win 65 games, three Big Ten West Division titles and six bowl victories in the Holiday, Cotton, Orange, Pinstripe, Duke’s Mayo and Las Vegas bowls.
Under Turner’s direction, Jake Ferguson emerged as a top target in the passing game, leading the Badgers in catches and yards in each of his final two seasons. A two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, Ferguson caught a pass in every game he played as a Badger, setting the school record for most consecutive games with a reception (47). His 145 career receptions rank second all-time among UW tight ends and his 1,618 career receiving yards is third. Ferguson was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Turner’s star pupil in his first three seasons at UW was tight end Troy Fumagalli, a finalist for the John Mackey Award and second-team All-American as a senior in 2017. He led the Badgers in receptions (46) and receiving yards (547) while pulling in four touchdown catches on the way to earning first-team All-Big Ten laurels.
The Big Ten Tight End of the Year in his final season, Fumagalli developed into one of the nation’s most complete players at his position and earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl to showcase his skills as a blocker and pass catcher before being selected by the Broncos in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Fumagalli’s breakout performance came in the 2017 Cotton Bowl, where he earned Offensive MVP honors after making six catches for 83 yards and a touchdown in the Badgers’ win over No. 12-ranked Western Michigan.
Turner also oversaw the development of Zander Neuville, a former walk-on who split time as a defensive end and tight end as a sophomore in 2016 before becoming a dedicated offensive player as a junior in 2017. Regarded as an outstanding blocker, Neuville also hauled in a pair of touchdown passes among his nine receptions on the season.
In his first year at Wisconsin, Turner guided senior tight end Austin Traylor to a (injury-shortened) breakout campaign in which he caught 14 passes for 210 yards and four TDs on his way to being a free agent signee of the Dallas Cowboys.
Turner added responsibility for Wisconsin’s fullbacks in 2017, with senior Austin Ramesh and junior Alec Ingold serving as key parts of the Badgers’ offensive attack. The duo combined for six touchdowns and were integral to a rushing effort that saw UW average 222.9 yards per game.
Before returning to Madison, Turner spent the previous three years at Pittsburgh. The 2010 UW graduate went on to earn an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis before joining Paul Chryst’s staff in 2012. He served as a graduate assistant in 2013 and was the Panthers’ assistant director of player development in 2014.
Turner played for the Badgers from 2006-09, serving as a captain during his senior season in 2009 and contributing to a UW team that went 10-3 and downed Miami to win the Champs Sports Bowl. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Turner was presented with the team’s Ivan B. Williamson Scholastic Award as a senior.
He and his wife, Katie, have a daughter, Callie, and son, Jackson.
