Fickell finalizes coaching staff

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin head football coach Luke Fickell announced the hiring of the Badgers' final on-field assistant, Devon (pronounced DEV-in) Spalding, on Friday. Spalding joins the UW staff as running backs coach after three seasons at Youngstown State.

"Devon is a terrific young coach," Fickell said. "He did an outstanding job for us during his one season as a GA at Cincinnati and I was very impressed with his work at Youngstown State these past three seasons. We have a very talented running back room and Devon is the perfect fit to lead that group."

At Youngstown State, Spalding mentored running back Jaleel McLaughlin to Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2022. McLaughlin ran for 1,588 yards last season and set the NCAA all-division career rushing record with 8,166 yards between two seasons at Notre Dame College and two seasons at Youngstown State.

Over Spalding's three years on staff, Youngstown State ranked 14^th in all of FCS football with 195.3 yards rushing per game. Over the 2021 and 2022 seasons, McLaughlin led FCS rushers with a 129.9 yards per game average. His 6.8 yards per carry clip over that span led the nation among rushers with 300+ carries.

McLaughlin, who totaled five 200-yard rushing performances during his career under Spalding, ran for 1,139 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021. Demeatric Crenshaw, YSU's second tailback that season, ran for 599 yards and added seven scores.

"I'm very thankful for the opportunity to be named running backs coach at Wisconsin," Spalding said. "It's a place that has great tradition, and the best fans in all of college football. I am excited to uphold the tradition of recruiting and coaching the best running backs in the country!"

Spalding was a graduate assistant on offense at Cincinnati under Fickell in 2019, a season that saw the Bearcats post an 11-3 overall mark and a Birmingham Bowl victory.

Before his stint at Cincinnati, Spalding played running back and wide receiver at Central Michigan from 2014-18. In 2016, Spalding made 10 starts at running back, rushing for 765 yards and six touchdowns on 138 carries.

Spalding grew up in Canton, Mich., and attended John Glenn High School where he earned Division 1-2 All-State honors as a senior. In his final high school season, Spalding ran for 1,761 yards on 190 carries and scored a school-record 27 touchdowns. He ranks No. 3 in Michigan history with a 491-yard single game rushing performance.

University of Wisconsin Athletics

Fickell finalizes coaching staff

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