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(Duplicate) Defensive Coordinator Luke Fickell (official thread)

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It's more than bucks
Tressel's assistants like their latest pay raises, but the local lifestyle also keeps them content
Sunday, July 18, 2010
By Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

osufb-7-18-art-g2b973sa-10719-fickell2.jpg

FILE PHOTO
Luke Fickell, 36, might be a "hot" commodity in college coaching, but so far, he's happy at OSU.

Luke Fickell has felt the pull. He has heard the whispers.

At age 36, the Ohio State assistant coach owns a reputation as an excellent recruiter and a young "up-and-comer."

He is co-defensive coordinator with Jim Heacock, but he has been on the staff for nine years now, and it does not appear that Heacock or coach Jim Tressel is going anywhere soon.

So, without a chance for advancement here in the near future, some have suggested to Fickell that it's time he moved on.

In recent years, he has interviewed for an assistant's job at Notre Dame and been a candidate for the head-coaching job at Akron.

"I've had a lot of different opportunities," Fickell said, "and I've had some people say to me, 'You've got to get away (from OSU), do something on your own," do this, do that.

"I don't know. I really like what I have here. Maybe they're right, and there might be really important people telling you that, but it's still got to be right for you."

While Fickell debated whether the grass was greener elsewhere, Tressel was making sure his staff got more green here at home.
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Fickell knows that. He grew up in Columbus, graduating from DeSales High School. He played for OSU. He relishes the fact that his wife has family and a support system close at hand while he works long hours.

That - maybe more than the big raise - is why he's still here.

"It's a quality of life," Fickell said. "Working for coach Tressel, Ohio State is a great place, and living somewhere where I can raise a family, those things are invaluable. No amount of money or titles can make up for that."
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Tressel's assistants like their latest pay raises, but the local lifestyle also keeps them content | BuckeyeXtra
 
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I think whenever Tressel retires his replacement should be someone from his program or someone he recommends. I think Fickell would be a great candidate for the job he's been around Tressel long enough plus recruits love the young coaches. He is also from the area and is a true buckeye, Fickell will be on my list!
 
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OhioState001;1734333; said:
I think whenever Tressel retires his replacement should be someone from his program or someone he recommends. I think Fickell would be a great candidate for the job he's been around Tressel long enough plus recruits love the young coaches. He is also from the area and is a true buckeye, Fickell will be on my list!
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I'd bet it'll be Hazell that replaces Tressel. If that happens, I can see Fickell moving up to assistant head coach.
 
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It's very interesting how spoiled we Buckeye's are at Ohio State with our staff's stability. The staff has lost very little talent to other programs through Tressel's excellent tenure. That speaks volumes to how Tressel and the Athletic Department are running this program.

However, I would not in the least be surprised to lose a Fickell or Hazell in the next few years, nor would I fault them for it. Big-time opportunities like Dantonio got at UC don't come around every year and our best assistant coaches are always going to be asked to interview for those types of jobs. Granted, if both leave... that would surprise me as I feel that they both have an excellent chance to be Tressel's heir.
 
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Diego-Bucks;1734341; said:
It's very interesting how spoiled we Buckeye's are at Ohio State with our staff's stability. The staff has lost very little talent to other programs through Tressel's excellent tenure. That speaks volumes to how Tressel and the Athletic Department are running this program.

However, I would not in the least be surprised to lose a Fickell or Hazell in the next few years, nor would I fault them for it. Big-time opportunities like Dantonio got at UC don't come around every year and our best assistant coaches are always going to be asked to interview for those types of jobs. Granted, if both leave... that would surprise me as I feel that they both have an excellent chance to be Tressel's heir.
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Ideally, if one of those guys were to eventually become The Man, I'd want them to get some HC experience somewhere before "coming home". I don't know if I would want somebody cutting their teeth at Ohio State...
 
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NFBuck said:
Ideally, if one of those guys were to eventually become The Man, I'd want them to get some HC experience somewhere before "coming home". I don't know if I would want somebody cutting their teeth at Ohio State...
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Do you think that if Tressel were to know when he would retire that he would place Fickell or Hazell in a more head-coach type position (i.e. interaction with current players and staff and play-calling)? I agree though, I wouldn't want a non-head coach to be hired as The Man at Ohio State but I do know that when Tressel retires we will have a lot of good options (I think we'd get looks from Pelini, Dantonio, current staff members and probably a few non-Buckeyes). Definitely this program is sexier and better off now (and presumably when Tressel retires) than it was when Tressel inherited it in 2001 (not that it was in terrible shape).
 
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Diego-Bucks;1734349; said:
Do you think that if Tressel were to know when he would retire that he would place Fickell or Hazell in a more head-coach type position (i.e. interaction with current players and staff and play-calling)? I agree though, I wouldn't want a non-head coach to be hired as The Man at Ohio State but I do know that when Tressel retires we will have a lot of good options (I think we'd get looks from Pelini, Dantonio, current staff members and probably a few non-Buckeyes). Definitely this program is sexier and better off now (and presumably when Tressel retires) than it was when Tressel inherited it in 2001 (not that it was in terrible shape).
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It was pretty bad...not necessarily from a talent standpoint, but in...other areas...
 
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http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2010/Michigan/fickellasstcoachofyear.html

Luke Fickell Named National Assistant Coach of the Year
From American Football Coaches Association Press Release

WACO, TEX.-- The American Football Coaches Association is proud to announce its 2010 Assistant Coach of the Year winners. One assistant coach from the five divisions of college football has been selected for their dedication to their teams and communities.

Each year, staff representatives from NCAA and NAIA football-playing schools are asked to nominate an assistant for consideration. From those nominations, a winner is selected by the AFCA Public Relations Committee. The winners of this award were selected from Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III and the NAIA.

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The 2010 honorees are as follows: Football Bowl Subdivision-Luke Fickell, Co-Defensive Coordinator & Linebackers Coach, Ohio State University; Football Championship Subdivision-Rick Fox, Offensive Line Coach & Special Teams Coordinator, Drake University; Division II-Joe Lorig, Defensive Coordinator & Defensive Backs Coach, Central Washington University; Division III-Chris Rusiewicz, Defensive Coordinator, Ursinus College; and NAIA-Doug Schleeman, Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach, Montana Tech.
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Luke Fickell, Co-Defensive Coordinator & Linebackers Coach, Ohio State: Fickell has been coaching football for 12 years, the last nine at Ohio State ... Fickell, along with former Ohio State teammates, Mike Vrabel and Ryan Miller, developed and began the 2nd & 7 Foundation. In 2000, the foundation sponsored its inaugural FUNdamental Football Camp for young kids and the proceeds were used to purchase books for second graders in seven Central Ohio elementary schools (thus, the creation of the foundation’s name). The 2nd & 7 Foundation has grown as its founders' passion to "Tackle Illiteracy" has increased. The "Tackle Illiteracy" program now includes reading to second graders in classrooms all over the country and provides each of the children in those classrooms with a book to take home ... Fickell is a frequent speaker at state and regional high school coaching clinics ... He also works with other colleges to develop 2nd & 7 or similar organizations on those campuses ... Fickell has coached nine All-Big Ten players, four All-Americans and 10 players who have played in the NFL ... Ohio State has won five Big Ten titles, gone to seven bowl games and played for the national championship twice during Fickell’s tenure.
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Congrats to Luke.

Ohio State has won five Big Ten titles, gone to seven bowl games and played for the national championship twice during Fickell's tenure.
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The press release had bad numbers. Luke has been at tOSU since 2002, and there have been 6 Big Ten titles (7 assuming they win The Game on Saturday), 8 bowl games (one each year), and 3 appearances in the BCS Championship Game.
 
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