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Updated: Nov 6 2013, 5:58p
After the (ahem) messy departure of Carl Pelini, it looks like Florida Atlantic doesn't want to waste any time in finding a successor. According to the Sun Sentinel, Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell has interviewed for the Florida Atlantic Head Coaching vacancy.
Sources close to the situation tell the Sun Sentinel that Chun flew to Columbus, Ohio Tuesday to interview Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell for FAU’s vacant head coaching position.
The 40-year-old Fickell is Chun’s top target for the FAU job, which is being held in the interim by Owls offensive coordinator Brian Wright.
FAU Athletic Director Pat Chun is no stranger to Ohio State (he was previously the Director of the Buckeye Club, and worked closely with the football program) having spent 15 years in the university Athletic Department before leaving in 2012.
Fickell, of course, has been on the Ohio State staff since 2002, as a special teams coach, linebacker coach, defensive coordinator, and a famed stint as Ohio State head coach before the university brought in Urban Meyer. Fickell was also named the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2010.
As Ohio State continues to sustain success, it would be expected that many of their assistant coaches would get looks at head coaching opportunities at other schools. While some fans may have expressed frustration at Fickell for Ohio State's less-than-dominant-at-times defense over the past two seasons, his service to the Buckeye football program is extensive, and his bonafides as a recruiter have been firmly established.
We will provide more information on this story as it develops.
UPDATE Nov 6, 2013 2:49 p.m. ET:
Sources close to the Ohio State football program have told Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch that Luke Fickell did not interview for the Florida Atlantic job yesterday.
UPDATE Nov 6, 2013 5:57 p.m. ET:
During his press conference Wednesday evening, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer reiterated May's previously disseminated talking points stating that Luke Fickell did not interview for the FAU job.