Photo by: Tom Lynn
Badgers announce staff additions
March 04, 2026 | Football
Confesor named wide recievers coach, Ligashesky added as special teams coordinator, among other changes
MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell announced a pair of hirings along with staff changes on Wednesday, adding Ari Confesor as wide receivers coach and Bob Ligashesky as special teams coordinator. Confesor joins the Badgers' staff with experience at the Power 4 and NFL levels while Ligashesky will guide the Badgers' special teams units after two seasons at the University of Minnesota and nearly 40 years across college football and the NFL.
"Bob and Ari are both great fits for our program," said Fickell. "Ari's coaching style and expertise will let him step in and make an impact immediately with our offense. Bob has a detailed-oriented approach and special teams experience, including 12 years in the NFL, that will be advantageous for a crucial unit of our team."
"I'm honored to be joining Coach Fickell's staff at Wisconsin," said Confesor. "Wisconsin is a place with a tradition of success and I'm excited to help elevate the offense and work with a group of high character men."
"I'm excited to get to work in Madison," said Ligashesky. "The Wisconsin program has always been one I've admired and I look forward to working with Coach Fickell and the rest of the staff."
Ari Confesor – Wide Receivers Coach
Confesor will lead the Badger wideouts after one season on staff with the Jacksonville Jaguars and a lengthy background in collegiate coaching.
Confesor joined the Jaguars' staff as a coaching fellow in early 2025 and stayed with the organization through its 2025 AFC South title campaign and playoff run. The stint in the NFL was Confesor's second of his career after working with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012.
No stranger to Power 4 college football, Confesor returns to a role as a wide receivers coach at the collegiate level. He led the Wake Forest wide receivers group from 2023-24, helping guide the program's all-time leader in receiving yards, WR Taylor Morin, to Honorable Mention All-ACC honors in 2024.
Prior to his time at Wake Forest, Confesor coached the Air Force wideouts from 2019-22. He helped the Falcons to a 34-11 overall record during that span and the program won three bowl games. Confesor coached wideouts at Rhode Island and Holy Cross, his alma mater, earlier in his career. A two-time All-American as a student-athlete, Confesor is Holy Cross' all-time leader with 2,352 career receiving yards and was inducted into the Holy Cross Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.
Bob Ligashesky – Special Teams Coordinator
Ligashesky joins the Wisconsin staff with nearly 40 years of coaching experience across the college football landscape and the NFL. He has spent the last two seasons at the University of Minnesota as special teams coordinator and held the same role at Syracuse from 2022-23.
Ligashesky has led special teams units for the Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers and the St. Louis Rams. At the college level, he has coached at Bowling Green, Illinois, Pittsburgh, Kent State, Arizona State and Wake Forest in addition to Minnesota and Syracuse.
Ligashesky has mentored some of the best special team players in the game, as he has worked with NFL kickers Jeff Reed (Steelers), Connor Barth (Buccaneers) and Sebastian Janikowski (Raiders) and long snapper Jon Weeks (Texans) and punter Shane Lechler (Texans). In college, he coached standouts in Illinois punter Blake Hayes and Illini kicker Chase McLaughlin, as well as Bowling Green kicker Nate Needham.
Other staff updates:
Tuf Borland has been named Wisconsin's inside linebackers coach. Borland spent the 2025 season as the Badgers' assistant linebackers coach after joining the program in 2023 as a graduate assistant. Borland has played an integral role in recruiting and coaching the Badger inside linebackers during his time in Madison. Mike Tressel, who was labeled as the Badgers' linebackers coach, continues as defensive coordinator.
Cam Odom has been added to the Badgers' staff as assistant wide receivers coach. Odom joins the UW staff after gaining coaching experience at Georgia and Baylor. A Bedford, Ohio native, Odom played wide receiver at Ohio University from 2016-21. With the addition, Blake Rolan is now the Badgers' assistant quarterbacks coach.
Chris Worley has been named assistant defensive backs coach and will work directly with the Badger nickels. Worley has been on staff since 2023 as UW's director of player development and engagement. During his playing career, Worley was a two-year starter at Ohio State and was a member of the Buckeye's 2015 CFP National Championship team.
Matt Mitchell's title has been adjusted to associate head coach and outside linebackers coach.
Nate Letton has had assistant head coach added to his title, along with his tight ends coach duties.
Wisconsin has also added Dylan Barnett as an offensive assistant and Bryan Sanborn as a defensive assistant.
"Bob and Ari are both great fits for our program," said Fickell. "Ari's coaching style and expertise will let him step in and make an impact immediately with our offense. Bob has a detailed-oriented approach and special teams experience, including 12 years in the NFL, that will be advantageous for a crucial unit of our team."
"I'm honored to be joining Coach Fickell's staff at Wisconsin," said Confesor. "Wisconsin is a place with a tradition of success and I'm excited to help elevate the offense and work with a group of high character men."
"I'm excited to get to work in Madison," said Ligashesky. "The Wisconsin program has always been one I've admired and I look forward to working with Coach Fickell and the rest of the staff."
Ari Confesor – Wide Receivers Coach
Confesor will lead the Badger wideouts after one season on staff with the Jacksonville Jaguars and a lengthy background in collegiate coaching.
Confesor joined the Jaguars' staff as a coaching fellow in early 2025 and stayed with the organization through its 2025 AFC South title campaign and playoff run. The stint in the NFL was Confesor's second of his career after working with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012.
No stranger to Power 4 college football, Confesor returns to a role as a wide receivers coach at the collegiate level. He led the Wake Forest wide receivers group from 2023-24, helping guide the program's all-time leader in receiving yards, WR Taylor Morin, to Honorable Mention All-ACC honors in 2024.
Prior to his time at Wake Forest, Confesor coached the Air Force wideouts from 2019-22. He helped the Falcons to a 34-11 overall record during that span and the program won three bowl games. Confesor coached wideouts at Rhode Island and Holy Cross, his alma mater, earlier in his career. A two-time All-American as a student-athlete, Confesor is Holy Cross' all-time leader with 2,352 career receiving yards and was inducted into the Holy Cross Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.
Bob Ligashesky – Special Teams Coordinator
Ligashesky joins the Wisconsin staff with nearly 40 years of coaching experience across the college football landscape and the NFL. He has spent the last two seasons at the University of Minnesota as special teams coordinator and held the same role at Syracuse from 2022-23.
Ligashesky has led special teams units for the Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers and the St. Louis Rams. At the college level, he has coached at Bowling Green, Illinois, Pittsburgh, Kent State, Arizona State and Wake Forest in addition to Minnesota and Syracuse.
Ligashesky has mentored some of the best special team players in the game, as he has worked with NFL kickers Jeff Reed (Steelers), Connor Barth (Buccaneers) and Sebastian Janikowski (Raiders) and long snapper Jon Weeks (Texans) and punter Shane Lechler (Texans). In college, he coached standouts in Illinois punter Blake Hayes and Illini kicker Chase McLaughlin, as well as Bowling Green kicker Nate Needham.
Other staff updates:
Tuf Borland has been named Wisconsin's inside linebackers coach. Borland spent the 2025 season as the Badgers' assistant linebackers coach after joining the program in 2023 as a graduate assistant. Borland has played an integral role in recruiting and coaching the Badger inside linebackers during his time in Madison. Mike Tressel, who was labeled as the Badgers' linebackers coach, continues as defensive coordinator.
Cam Odom has been added to the Badgers' staff as assistant wide receivers coach. Odom joins the UW staff after gaining coaching experience at Georgia and Baylor. A Bedford, Ohio native, Odom played wide receiver at Ohio University from 2016-21. With the addition, Blake Rolan is now the Badgers' assistant quarterbacks coach.
Chris Worley has been named assistant defensive backs coach and will work directly with the Badger nickels. Worley has been on staff since 2023 as UW's director of player development and engagement. During his playing career, Worley was a two-year starter at Ohio State and was a member of the Buckeye's 2015 CFP National Championship team.
Matt Mitchell's title has been adjusted to associate head coach and outside linebackers coach.
Nate Letton has had assistant head coach added to his title, along with his tight ends coach duties.
Wisconsin has also added Dylan Barnett as an offensive assistant and Bryan Sanborn as a defensive assistant.
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