Long journey leads Fickell to Cincinnati
CINCINNATI (BVM) — After back-to-back 11 win seasons for the Cincinnati Bearcats, head coach Luke Fickell was a candidate for many prominent jobs across the country.
One such job was the head coaching vacancy this past year for the Michigan State Spartans, where Fickell interviewed, but decided it was best for him to remain in Ohio and coach the Bearcats.
“I had to make a selfish decision, but this selfish decision was what was right for my family — and that is to be here, to be with you guys, and continue to do what it is we’ve done,” Fickell said in an interview.
Fickell has since signed a contract extension through 2026 to remain with the Bearcats.
Fickell’s journey to become the head coach at the University of Cincinnati has mostly come in the state of Ohio, as Fickell was born in Columbus and went to Desales High School. Fickell was named first team all-Ohio in football two times at Desales, and also won three state wrestling championships.
After a standout high school career, Fickell committed to play football at Ohio State where he started 50 straight games at defensive tackle. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints after graduating, but tore his ACL in his first season and was later released.
Fickell accepted his first coaching job in 2000 when he became the defensive line coach for Akron University. That job springboarded him to return to his alma mater to coach special teams at Ohio State. As a result, Fickell was part of the 2002 national championship team. Fickell would continue to rise up the coaching ranks shortly after, becoming co-defensive coordinator for the Buckeyes in 2005.
With the weight of the tattoo scandal in 2011 — where players received improper benefits and sold championship rings and jerseys — head coach Jim Tressel resigned. As a result, Fickell was chosen as the interim head coach. It was an up and down season that resulted in a 6-6 record for the Buckeyes, including a loss to Florida in the Gator Bowl.
After that season, the Buckeyes decided to hire Urban Meyer as the head coach. Meyer kept Fickell on the staff as he returned to his linebacker and co-defensive coordinator position. With Fickell staying at Ohio State, he would go on to win his second national championship with the Buckeyes in 2014. But in 2016, Fickell finally got an official chance to lead a college football program at the University of Cincinnati.
“It’s with much pride and humility that I accept the awesome honor of becoming the head coach at the University of Cincinnati,” Fickell said in a statement. “This city, this school and my family are all Ohio. It’s a tough blue-collar state with hard-working, blue-collar people that respect an honest and complete effort. That’s what they will get from me personally and what they should expect from this football program.”
Fickell’s teams have been just that. After going 4-8 in his first season, the Bearcats have only lost five games in the last two seasons, and have won two consecutive bowl games against ACC opposition while finishing inside the top-25 nationally.
Fickell has done a good job recruiting — especially within the state of Ohio — to have his Bearcats ranked this season as the No.15 team in the nation.
Before the 2020 season, Fickell was named to the Dodd trophy preseason watch list, which is given to the nation’s coach of the year. This season can be the most promising yet for the Bearcats under Fickell, being ranked in the preseason for the first time in school history.
The Bearcats will be expected to compete for the AAC championship, a new year’s six bowl appearance and possibly an outside shot at a playoff berth. Ranked matchups with Army, Memphis and a potential top-15 game with UCF give the Bearcats some chances at impressive victories.
Cincinnati started the season off with a blow out 55-20 victory over Austin Peay, and kept the momentum going with an impressive win over No. 22 Army. Fickell has led the Cincinnati football program to being one of the top teams in the country, and it will be interesting to see how the Bearcats finish up in 2020.
