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LUKE FICKELL - OHIO STATE
BUZZ: Fickell signed two five-star recruits: defensive back Corey Brown and linebacker Dorian Bell. He also helped in-state and reached out to Kentucky to pull in four-star linebacker Jordan Whiting. He's become one of the one of the most consistent and effective recruiters in the Big Ten.
Does it feel good for you to still be here (after interviewing at Notre Dame)?
It is what it is. And I'm excited. If you ever do make a change, I think the hardest thing is walking away from the people you got to know so well, the guys you counted on and they counted on you. And someday, if it ever happens, it won't be easy, especially when you have the kind of relationships that you do have.
Luke Fickell, Ohio State
The Buckeyes have a geographic advantage, being located in a top-five talent-producing state. Still, it takes an excellent recruiting staff to corral all of that talent and to also spot recruit nationally. Several, including those who are close to the Ohio State program, believe Fickle, the team's co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, is the best at doing just that. In this recruiting cycle, Fickle has three of the 12 committed recruits.
Whenever there's a coaching change in the Mid-American Conference, it's a good bet Big Ten assistants will be in the mix.
Michigan State aides Don Treadwell, Mark Staten and Pat Narduzzi gained consideration for the Miami (Ohio) opening last year, and Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell was mentioned when the top job at Bowling Green became available.
There's another opening in the MAC, this time at Akron, and Big Ten assistants once again could be candidates.
The Sporting News mentioned Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst and Fickell as possible contenders for the Akron job.
Chryst was a leading candidate to succeed Joe Tiller at Purdue, and he might want to aim a little higher than Akron. Fickell will certainly be a head coach some day, and served as Akron's defensive line coach from 2000-01, but he also could hold out for a more coveted job.
Ohio State wide receivers coach Darrell Hazell, who took a more active role in the team's play calling this season, also should gain some interest for vacancies.
Ohio State defensive assistant Luke Fickell has been named in several publications as a candidate for the coaching job at Akron, primarily because he was on the staff there in 2000-01. Fickell's name also was mentioned last year when the Bowling Green job opened.
Fickell has been at Ohio State for eight years and might someday be a candidate for the coaching position at OSU, his alma mater, but he likely would have to serve as a coach elsewhere first. Whether the Akron job is on his radar or he is aiming higher remains to be seen.
ShakerBuck;1612209; said:Couldn't blame Luke if he decided to get some head coaching experience. Been an tOSU assistant for 8 years. He'll need some head coaching experience if his goal is to become the head coach at tOSU some day.
I'm sure Luke was the primary recruiter for some of our current commits. Would any of them reconsider if Luke leaves?
gracelhink;1612219; said:TOS
Rivals BG has a list of commits and the page 2 info shows which coach is responsible for their recruiting.
According to that chart, Fickell is the lead recruiter for Chad Hagan, David Durham, and Scott McVey.
Re. their reconsideration of a verbal if Luke leaves, can't imagine Durham or McVey reopening their recruiting.
Said he had one assistant coach be interviewed for a head coaching job, and that position has since been filled. I'm guessing it was Luke Fickell for the Akron job. I would not be surprised if there weren't any changes on the OSU staff this offseason...bold prediction, given recent history, eh?