Badgers fast rising assistant named one of the top young coaches in college football
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The Wisconsin Badgers have seen a lot of change with their coaching staff since head coach Luke Fickell arrived back in 2023, making moves at offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, running backs coach, wide receivers coach, tight ends coach, offensive line coach, linebackers coach, cornerbacks coach, and safeties coach.
The change has come for a variety of reasons, be it poor performance, coaches leaving for better opportunities, or a restructuring of the staff. Still, through all the moves, the Badgers have compiled a strong staff, with some of the newcomers making quick impacts.
Among that group is inside linebackers coach Tuf Borland, who was with the program as a graduate assistant in 2023 and was promoted to his current role as Mike Tressel moved to just being the defensive coordinator. Borland now oversees a group that includes stars Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano.
A former standout linebacker for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Borland has transitioned well to the coaching world. He’s considered one of the top young coaches in the country by 247Sports, which ranked him as one of their Top 30 coaches under 30.
“A standout linebacker at Ohio State from 2016-20, Borland has quickly emerged as an impact coach in his post-playing career,” 247Sports’s Chris Hummer wrote. “He joined Wisconsin’s staff as a graduate assistant in 2023 and was promoted as the full-time inside linebackers coach this offseason.
“Borland was the program’s assistant linebackers coach last season — defensive coordinator Mike Tressel had the full-time job — and helped coach two of the best players on the defense, Mason Posa and Cooper Catalano, in 2025. Wisconsin promoted Borland for a reason. Said one program source of him: ‘He’s a really good young coach.’”
Wisconsin also had one familiar name on the list: former General Manager Max Stienecker, who is now the Executive Director of Player Personnel at USC. One of the best recruiters in the country, Stienecker, 26, has been a regular on the list.
“Stienecker was the Power Four’s youngest general manager in 2024 with Wisconsin. He played a big role in helping USC land the No. 1 overall recruiting class during the 2026 cycle.”
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