Greg Gard, other Wisconsin coaches receive usual contract extensions

Q: What contract extensions did Greg Gard receive?

Greg Gard received a one-year contract extension as the men's basketball coach for the Wisconsin Badgers.

Q: Which other Wisconsin coaches received contract extensions?

Other coaches who received contract extensions include Robin Pingeton, Mike Hastings, Mark Johnson, Chris Bono, and Jack Brown.

Q: Why did Luke Fickell not receive a contract extension?

Luke Fickell requested that UW not extend his contract following an underwhelming 2025 football season.

Q: When did the UW athletic board approve the contract extensions?

The UW athletic board approved the contract extensions at its meeting on April 15.

MADISON – Greg Gard and the rest of the Wisconsin Badgers’ winter sports coaches have received their customary annual contract extensions.

The UW athletic board signed off on one-year contract extensions for Gard as men’s basketball coach, women’s basketball coach Robin Pingeton, men’s hockey coach Mike Hastings, women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson, wrestling coach Chris Bono and swimming coach Jack Brown at its April 15 meeting.

The extensions are standard practice for UW across all sports, with the exception of Luke Fickell after the underwhelming 2025 football season. (Then-athletic director Chris McIntosh said in a release that Fickell requested that UW not extend his contract, which would not have affected his buyout.)

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: Wisconsin Badgers Spirit Squad perform before the game against the High Point Panthers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: Head coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers walks on court before the game against the High Point Panthers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.

Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; The Wisconsin Badgers band performs prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: High Point Panthers fans are seen before the game against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.

Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; The Wisconsin Badgers cheerleadrs perform prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; High Point Panthers fans in the stands prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: The Wisconsin Badgers warm up before taking on the High Point Panthers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: The High Point Panthers Athletic Band perform before the game against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 19: The Wisconsin Badgers Marching Band performs before the game against the High Point Panthers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)

Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; High Point Panthers fans cheer prior to a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Wisconsin Badgers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

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Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlights

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Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlights

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Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlights

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Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlights

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Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlights

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Wisconsin vs High Point in March Madness 2026, first round highlights

Gard, Pingeton, Hastings, Johnson, Bono and Brown's contracts now all are effective through May or June 2031. The duration of the contract does not always affect how much UW would have to pay in the case of termination without cause.

Gard’s contract, for example, would pay out $8 million if he was terminated before May 31. After that, his buyout would drop to $5 million.

Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard is shown with forward Will Garlock (23) during the first half of their third round game of the Big Ten tournament against Washington Thursday, March 12, 2026 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

The routine extensions follow varying levels of on-court success for each of the coaches.

Men’s basketball had several marquee wins in the regular season and reached the Big Ten tournament semifinals before a frustrating loss in the first round of men’s March Madness. Pingeton led women’s basketball to the WBIT semifinals in her first season at the helm.

Women’s hockey won another national championship, and men’s hockey reached the Frozen Four before losing to Denver in the national championship.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Greg Gard, other Wisconsin coaches receive usual contract extensions