BIOS Hosts Wisconsin High School Coaches and Leaders Prior to State Championships
November 24, 2025 | General News
Director Pete Miller and Deputy AD/Football General Manager Marcus Sedberry Lead Conversation On Research, Leadership & Processes
MADISON, Wis. – The Badger Inquiry on Sport (BIOS) hosted coaches and leaders from around the state to foster connections and discuss team structure at Camp Randall Stadium last Friday prior to a day of WIAA State Football Championships.
Sports leadership professor and director of BIOS, Dr. Peter Miller led the conversation with UW Athletics Deputy AD/Football General Manager Dr. Marcus Sedberry. The coaches also participated in a Q&A and talked about their programs with Miller and Sedberry.
Welcoming in the new era.
— Wisconsin Badgers (@UWBadgers) November 24, 2025
On Friday during the @wiaawi State Football Championships, the Badger Inquiry on Sports Research Lab brought together coaches from across Wisconsin, including @BadgerFootball, to talk implementing systems in the new era of football. pic.twitter.com/znqBGrf4Xg
"One important part of our work is to make sure that what we learn is for the good of everyone in our state, not just for Badgers, but for people living in all corners of the state," said Miller. "We wanted to have an event where we share some of what we've learned, some of our research, with some of these great coaches."
The BIOS goal is to serve as a bridge, bringing in research and scientific understanding to athletics. One of the first established areas of BIOS's research is dedicated to deepening the scientific understanding of good coaching with the aim to support and develop excellent coaches and leaders within Wisconsin and beyond.
"BIOS is leadership work. We study leadership. We study innovation. We also study the mental side of sport, how we can get better from the head on up. So really, it's been a dynamic mix of athletics and academics," Miller said. "UW is one of the best academic institutions in the world. UW is one of the best college sports programs in the country, so bringing the two together is a cool thing."
Wisconsin coaches, including head coach Luke Fickell, Jeff Grimes, Paul Haynes, Casey Rabach and AJ Blazek among others were also in attendance. At the start of the event, many of the high school coaches were able to converse with Badger coaches regarding their programs, coaching structure and values.
"Today was a great opportunity for us to engage with the high school football coaches here in the state. They're the folks who understand the pulse, understand the environment of the young people. They also understand what it means to be a Wisconsin Badger if they've been around the state for a while," said Sedberry. "So for our coaching staff, for Coach Fick to come, Casey Rabach, who played here from the state, Coach Grimes, offensive coordinator, for them to come and get a feel for the fabric of high school football here, I think is important."
Sedberry discussed the various elements of a strong system at a high school and college playing level with an emphasis on the importance of values. As football general manager, he highlighted every member of the staff, having a voice and playing a crucial role on the team.
"Today we talked a lot about leadership, but from a perspective of systems and processes and how you get those to work for you. Having a clear set of values is something that I truly believe in and I tried to share a lot about that today," Sedberry said. "I think that's one of the things that makes Wisconsin special. The values that we have, the systems that have been put in place over the years to be successful, we have to continue to lean into those types of opportunities."
