Luke Fickell

Luke Fickell
Fickell in 2019
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamWisconsin
ConferenceBig Ten
Record13–13
Biographical details
Born (1973-08-18) August 18, 1973 (age 51)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Playing career
1993–1996Ohio State
1997New Orleans Saints
Position(s)Nose guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1999Ohio State (GA)
2000–2001Akron (DL)
2002–2003Ohio State (ST)
2004Ohio State (LB)
2005–2010Ohio State (co-DC/LB)
2011Ohio State (interim HC)
2012–2016Ohio State (co-DC/LB)
2017–2022Cincinnati
2023–presentWisconsin
Head coaching record
Overall76–38 (.667)
Bowls3–4 (.429)
Tournaments0–1 (CFP)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 AAC (2020, 2021)
1 AAC East Division (2019)
Awards

Luke Joseph Fickell (born August 18, 1973) is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head football coach for the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a position he has held since 2023. Previously he was the head coach at the University of Cincinnati, a position he held from 2016 through 2022. Fickell played college football as a nose guard at Ohio State University from 1993 to 1996 and then was an assistant coach for the Buckeyes. He was interim head coach at Ohio State for the entire 2011 season.

Playing career

Fickell started his playing career at St. Francis DeSales High School, where he was a two-time first-team All-Ohio defensive tackle as well as a three-time state champion in wrestling.[1] After redshirting for the Buckeyes in 1992, Fickell was a standout defensive player, making a school-record 50 consecutive starts at the nose guard position from 1993 to 1996. In his freshman year, he lined up next to Dan Wilkinson. Despite having a torn pectoral muscle, Fickell started the 1997 Rose Bowl, making two tackles in the Buckeyes' victory over Arizona State. After graduating from Ohio State in 1997, Fickell signed as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL).[2] After tearing his ACL, he spent the remainder of the season on the injured reserve list and was later released by the team.[2][3][4]

Coaching career

Akron

After a brief stint in the NFL and at Ohio State as a graduate assistant in 1999,[5] in 2000 Fickell was hired by the University of Akron as the defensive line coach.[6][7]

Ohio State

After two seasons with the Zips, he returned to Ohio State in 2002 as the special teams coordinator under second-year head coach, Jim Tressel, helping guide the team to the 2002 BCS National Championship.[8][9] In 2004, Fickell took over as the linebackers coach, adding the title co-defensive coordinator to his responsibilities in 2005. In 2010, he was named assistant coach of the year by the AFCA, joining a list of Buckeyes coaches to be recognized by the association that also includes Carroll Widdoes, Woody Hayes, Earle Bruce, and Jim Tressel.[10]

In 2011, Fickell was originally named to serve as interim head coach in place of Jim Tressel, who was given a five-game suspension by the NCAA due to a recruiting scandal. However, in May of that year, Tressel resigned and Fickell was given a one-year contract to serve as interim coach, only for the 2011 season.[11]

After Ohio State posted a 6–6 regular season record,[12] Fickell was passed up as the permanent head coach, and instead Ohio State hired Urban Meyer. Fickell guided the Buckeyes to the 2012 Gator Bowl against the Florida Gators.[13] After Meyer took the helm, Fickell returned to his old job as co-defensive coordinator (helping guide the Buckeyes to the 2014 CFP National Championship), a job in which he served until he was named head coach at Cincinnati.[14] While on Meyer's staff, Fickell was part of the coaching staff that won the National Championship in the 2014 season.[15]

Cincinnati

On December 10, 2016, Fickell was named as the 42nd head coach of the University of Cincinnati, taking the place of the resigning Tommy Tuberville.[16][17]

In his first season, Fickell led the Bearcats to a 4–8 record.[18]

The 2018 season would be a historic turnaround of the program, finishing with an 11–2 record and a 35–31 victory in the Military Bowl over Virginia Tech.[19][20] Fickell was named AAC Coach of the Year for the 2018 season,[21] which was only the third 11-win season in the University of Cincinnati history.[22]

He led the team to another 11-win season in 2019.[23] The Bearcats reeled off nine straight wins after falling 42–0 to Ohio State in the second game of the year.[24] The team won the East Division championship in the AAC for the first time,[25] but fell two straight weeks to Memphis, in the final regular season game and in the AAC Conference Championship.[26][27] For the second straight year, Cincinnati won its bowl game over an Atlantic Coast Conference team, winning the Birmingham Bowl over Boston College by a score of 38–6.[28]

Before the start of the 2020 season Fickell agreed to a contract extension which would keep him at Cincinnati through the 2026 season.[29] Fickell had previously received head coaching interest from other schools such as Michigan State,[30] Florida State,[31] West Virginia,[32] Louisville,[33] and Maryland.[34]

Fickell was one of thirteen coaches named to the watchlist for the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award before the 2020 season.[35]

In 2020, Luke Fickell led the Cincinnati Bearcats to a 9–1 campaign including Cincinnati's second perfect regular season which included winning the 2020 AAC Championship Game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Cincinnati was selected for the 2021 Peach Bowl against the #9 Georgia Bulldogs. Both teams went into the game down a number of key players due to injury, illness, or opt-outs, including Cincinnati's two All-Americans Sauce Gardner and James Wiggins. After leading by a score of 21–10 entering the fourth quarter, Cincinnati ultimately fell to Georgia on a 53-yard field goal with 7 seconds left in the game, by a final score of 24–21. Fickell was named AAC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career.

In 2021, Fickell again led the Bearcats to a perfect regular-season record, including non-conference wins at the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Indiana Hoosiers. Cincinnati then defended their American Athletic Conference Football Championship with a 35–20 victory over the Houston Cougars. With a record of 13–0 as the only undefeated team in the nation, Cincinnati was selected as the #4 seed in the College Football Playoff, making them the first program outside of a "Power 5" conference to advance. Fickell was named AAC Coach of the Year for the third time in his career, and for the second consecutively, as well as being named the winner of six other major awards including Home Depot Coach of the Year,[36] Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year,[37] Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year,[38] Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year,[39] AFCA Coach of the Year,[40] and the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award.[41] Later on Cincinnati would go on to lose the College Football Playoff Cotton Bowl Semifinal to the University of Alabama and Head coach Nick Saban falling to them 27–6.[42]

In the 2022 season, Fickell led the team to a 9–3 record in the regular season.[43] The Bearcats lost to Louisville 24–7 in the Fenway Bowl, although Fickell had resigned prior to the bowl game.[44]

Wisconsin

In November 2022, Wisconsin hired Fickell as its football coach replacing Paul Chryst.[45][46][47] Fickell was credited with coaching and winning his first game only several weeks after being hired, replacing interim Jim Leonhard in title for the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Fickell admitted however that Leonhard was still effectively performing the head coaching duties for the game, and that his own participation was as, "maybe a little bit more of a figurehead".[48]

In Fickell's first full season as head coach in 2023, he led the Badgers to a 7–5 record in the regular season.[49] The Badgers ultimately lost 35–31 to the LSU Tigers in the ReliaQuest Bowl for a final record of 7-6.[50]

The 2024 season was less successful. Off the field, Fickell's handpicked advisor Jack Del Rio[51] resigned mid-season after crashing his vehicle onto a neighborhood residence while intoxicated,[52] and Fickell fired offensive coordinator Phil Longo after 10 games, with no named replacement for the remainder of the season. Fickell received criticism for answering, "Why does it matter?" when asked who would call plays in place of Longo.[53] After a 5-2 start to the season, the Badgers lost 5 consecutive games to conclude 2024; the 5-7 record guaranteed a losing season and no Wisconsin bowl game for the first time in 22 years.[54] In addition, Wisconsin lost all three trophy games to Big Ten rivals by large margins.

Personal life

Luke Fickell and his wife, Amy (Goecke), who has a physical therapy degree from Ohio State, have six children—five sons and one daughter—including two sets of twin boys.[55][56] They started dating when Amy was a sophomore at Ohio State; they were married in 2000.[57] Fickell and his family are Catholic, which played a factor in Fickell's interest in coming to Cincinnati.[58]

Fickell's eldest son, Landon, committed to Cincinnati as an offensive guard out of Moeller High School as part of the 2021 recruitment class.[59]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Ohio State Buckeyes (Big Ten Conference) (2011)
2011 Ohio State 6–7 3–5 4th (Leaders) L Gator
Ohio State: 6–7 3–5
Cincinnati Bearcats (American Athletic Conference) (2017–2022)
2017 Cincinnati 4–8 2–6 T–4th (East)
2018 Cincinnati 11–2 6–2 3rd (East) W Military 23 24
2019 Cincinnati 11–3 7–1 1st (East) W Birmingham 21 21
2020 Cincinnati 9–1 6–0 1st L Peach† 8 8
2021 Cincinnati 13–1 8–0 1st L Cotton† 4 4
2022 Cincinnati 9–3 6–2 3rd Fenway*
Cincinnati: 57–18 35–11 *resigned prior to bowl game
Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten Conference) (2023–present)
2022 Wisconsin 1–0 0–0 5th (West) W Guaranteed Rate
2023 Wisconsin 7–6 5–4 T–2nd (West) L ReliaQuest
2024 Wisconsin 5–7 3–6 T–12th
2025 Wisconsin 0–0 0–0
Wisconsin: 13–13 8–10
Total: 76–38
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ Galbincea, Pat (September 1, 2011). "Luke Fickell could have been Ohio's best ... wrestler". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Injuries are name of game at NFL camps". Albany Times Union. Associated Press. July 24, 1997. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2013 – via HighBeam Research.
  3. ^ Joyce, Greg (December 5, 2021). "Cincinnati's Luke Fickell gets NFL interest". New York Post. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  4. ^ Pelissero, Tom (December 5, 2021). "Cincinnati Bearcats coach Luke Fickell interviewed with Lions last year, remains on teams' radar". NFL.com. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  5. ^ Johnston, Tia (September 5, 2019). "A look back at Luke Fickell's career at Ohio State". Land-Grant Holy Land. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  6. ^ Shapiro, Spencer (December 1, 2022). "Football: What hiring of Luke Fickell means for future of Wisconsin football". The Badger Herald. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  7. ^ Goldman, Dylan (December 1, 2022). "Get to know Wisconsin football's newest head coach Luke Fickell". The Daily Cardinal. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  8. ^ Wadleigh, Matt (October 3, 2021). "Ohio State's Jim Tressel, who employed Luke Fickell, discusses USC candidate". Trojans Wire. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  9. ^ Helwagen, Steve (January 3, 2023). "Remembering 2002: National title game win over Miami was 20 years ago today". 247Sports. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  10. ^ "Luke Fickell named assistant head football coach for Ohio State Buckeyes". cleveland.com. March 30, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  11. ^ Miller, Rusty (October 11, 2011). "Fickell to get paid $775,000: Ohio State University football". The Freemont News-Messenger. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  12. ^ "2011 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  13. ^ Lewis, Tom (December 4, 2011). "Gator Bowl 2012: Ohio State Vs. Florida In Urban Meyer Bowl". SB Nation Cleveland. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  14. ^ Rittenberg, Adam (November 29, 2011). "Meyer makes right call in retaining Fickell". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  15. ^ Rohan, Tim (January 13, 2015). "From Big Ten to Big One". The New York Times. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  16. ^ Rittenberg, Adam (December 10, 2016). "Cincinnati hires Luke Fickell as head coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  17. ^ "Luke Fickell - Football Coach". University of Cincinnati Athletics. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  18. ^ "2017 Cincinnati Bearcats Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  19. ^ "2018 Cincinnati Bearcats Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  20. ^ "Military Bowl - Cincinnati vs Virginia Tech Box Score, December 31, 2018". Sports Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  21. ^ "AAC Coach of the Year Winners". Sports Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  22. ^ "Cincinnati Bearcats College Football History, Stats, Records". Sports Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  23. ^ "2019 Cincinnati Bearcats Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  24. ^ Means, Stephen (September 7, 2019). "Ohio State football 42, Cincinnati 0: Six plays that defined the game". cleveland.com. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  25. ^ "2019 American Athletic Conference Year Summary". Sports Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  26. ^ "Cincinnati at Memphis Box Score, November 29, 2019". Sports Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  27. ^ "Cincinnati at Memphis Box Score, December 7, 2019". Sports Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  28. ^ Black, A. J. (January 2, 2020). "Cincinnati 38 Boston College 6: Bearcats Push Around Overmatched Eagles". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  29. ^ Rittenberg, Adam (August 25, 2020). "Cincinnati football coach Luke Fickell finalizes contract extension through 2026". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  30. ^ Charboneau, Matt (February 10, 2020). "Luke Fickell says no to Michigan State; 'family' keeps him at Cincinnati". DetroitNews.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  31. ^ Henry, Jim (November 30, 2019). "'Renaissance of FSU football' on the clock as coaching search continues". Tallahassee.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  32. ^ Daugherty, Paul (January 4, 2019). "Doc: WVU was UC coach Luke Fickell's first suitor, but he's not Brian Kelly or Butch Jones". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  33. ^ Sayers, Justin (November 29, 2018). "Meet Cincinnati's Luke Fickell, possible Louisville coaching candidate". courier-journal.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  34. ^ Lyons, Dan (November 27, 2018). "Luke Fickell Drawing Interest From Major School". The Spun. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  35. ^ "The Dodd Trophy Announces 2020 Preseason Watch List". chick-fil-apeachbowl.com. September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  36. ^ "Fickell Named The Home Depot National Coach of the Year". University of Cincinnati Athletics. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  37. ^ Decourcy, Mike (December 16, 2021). "Luke Fickell's history-making season earns him Sporting News Coach of the Year award". Sporting News. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  38. ^ Digital Staff, FOX19 (December 30, 2021). "Luke Fickell wins Dodd Trophy for Coach of The Year". fox19.com. Retrieved January 6, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  39. ^ Farner, Keith (December 20, 2021). "Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award goes to Playoff semifinalist". saturdaydownsouth.com. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  40. ^ "Fickell Named AFCA Coach of Year" (Press release). GoBearcats. January 9, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  41. ^ Durante, Joseph (January 12, 2022). "Cincinnati's Luke Fickell wins Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  42. ^ "Alabama, Brian Robinson run over Cincinnati 27-6 in Playoff semifinal win in Cotton Bowl". New York Times. December 31, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  43. ^ "2022 Cincinnati Bearcats Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  44. ^ "Fenway Bowl - Cincinnati vs Louisville Box Score, December 17, 2022". Sports Reference. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  45. ^ Thamel, Pete (November 27, 2022). "Wisconsin brings in Cincinnati's Fickell as coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  46. ^ Gaydos, Ryan (November 27, 2022). "Wisconsin taps Luke Fickell for football job after great run with Cincinnati: 'He is a transformative hire'". Fox News. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  47. ^ "Fickell ushers in new era of Badger football". uwbadgers.com. November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  48. ^ "Fickell to defer to Leonhard for Wisconsin's bowl". ESPN.com. December 26, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  49. ^ "2023 Wisconsin Badgers Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  50. ^ "ReliaQuest Bowl - Wisconsin vs LSU Box Score, January 1, 2024". Sports Reference. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  51. ^ Stewart, Mark. "Luke Fickell explains how adding Jack Del Rio to the coaching staff will help Wisconsin football". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  52. ^ "Badgers' Del Rio to resign after crash, OWI arrest". ESPN.com. November 11, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  53. ^ "Wisconsin's Luke Fickell gives infuriating answer when asked about play-calling". Badger of Honor. November 19, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  54. ^ Marotta, Karley (November 29, 2024). "Minnesota wins 24-7 to secure the Axe, ends Wisconsin's 22-year bowl streak". WKOW. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  55. ^ Groeschen, Tom (December 10, 2016). "UC has hired Luke Fickell as coach". The Enquirer. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  56. ^ "Luke Fickell". Ohio State Buckeyes Athletics. Archived from the original on December 16, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  57. ^ Williams, Justin (August 16, 2021). "Amy Fickell is a coach's wife, but she's also a player's mom, ace recruiter, levitator and much more". The Athletic. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  58. ^ O'Rourke, Tanya (August 30, 2017). "Luke Fickell isn't fickle about anything, and certainly not family, faith or his football team". wcpo.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020. 2. Was your Catholic faith a factor in choosing where you wanted to be a head coach? LF: "I'm not sure it was one of those things where you say, 'I've got to go to a place that has a high Catholic influence or community,' but my family, like I said, is the number one most important thing to me. And for my family to go to a place where they felt like they could thrive and truly set roots and say, 'We can live here for 10, 12, 15 years' or whatever … to be in a community like this where there are a lot of options for schools, youth sports. There were a lot of factors, and obviously, faith was a big part of that thought."
  59. ^ Walker, Mick (April 24, 2020). "Landon Fickell Joins The Family With Cincinnati Commitment". 247sports.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.