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Luke Fickell’s lone year as the head coach at his alma mater lives in a bit of an infamous state.
After being the unfortunate one to have to succeed Jim Tressel on virtually no notice, attempt to keep that coming winter’s recruiting class together with duct tape, and try to win some football games in the process, Fickell exited his short tenure at Ohio State with a 6-7 record and some soul searching to do.
Enter: Urban Meyer.
After being given a second chance as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator — along with getting the chance to collaborate with some great defensive minds in their own right in Chris Ash and Greg Schiano — Fickell’s gone through a bit of coaching rehabilitation and is suddenly in the mix for head coaching gigs once again.
According to ABC 6’s Clay Hall, Fickell’s under consideration for the vacant Cincinnati head coaching gig:
Source confirms OSU D-Coordinator Luke Fickell is in the mix for UC HC job. Decided in spring he was ready to be HC again.
— Clay Hall (@claywsyx6) December 7, 2016
Dan Dakich, a friend of Urban and Shelley Meyer, tweeted something Tuesday evening that while dismissed by many, may actually have been sourced (or based on sourced) intel:
Breaking ..things have broken down between UC and Fleck..next UC coach from OSU ..Coombs or Finkel
— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) December 7, 2016
Dakich coached at Bowling Green at the same time Meyer did.
While Ohio State cornerbacks/special teams coach Kerry Coombs is practically Mr. Cincinnati (he was a long time successful high school coach there and previously coached at UC), it seems his star might not be quite as bright in the Queen City as some wishing him well may have thought it was.
You have to wonder, though, would Coombs have a chance to join Fickell, potentially as his defensive coordinator? His son remains on staff with the Cincinnati Bengals and he still has grandchildren there.