Ohio State’s Luke Fickell hired as Cincinnati head coach

Ohio State defensive co-coordinator will be Cincinnati’s new head coach.

You may recognize the name. Fickell was on Ohio State’s coaching staff during the tattoo-and-memorabilia scandal that led to the firing of Jim Tressel. He was a linebackers coach then, but he became interim head coach of the team in place of Tressel during the 2011 season.

Fickell led the Buckeyes to a 6-7 record as well as a Gator Bowl berth. When Urban Meyer took over, Fickell was given a co-coordinator position and became the sole defensive coordinator in 2015. Greg Schiano joined the staff as a co-DC for 2016.

Our Ohio State blog, Land-Grant Holy Land, sees Fickell as a talented development coach:

Fickell, for what it’s worth, hasn’t been as highly rated as a recruiter, but his eye as an evaluator is exceptional valuable. Fans probably recall that it was Fickell who fought hard for the Buckeyes to take a “skinny-necked” HS QB from New Albany named Darron Lee (and Lee hasn’t forgotten it). His ties to the Columbus area are exceptionally strong, and if another lower-rated Buckeye blossoms, chances are, Fickell had his fingerprints on it.

His 2016 Ohio State defense ranks No. 3 in the S&P+ efficiency rankings, which are adjusted for opponent. The D ranks No. 4 in yards-per-game allowed and has made its bones turning teams over to devastating effect. The Buckeyes have seven pick-sixes this season and three of them have come from standout sophomore safety Malik Hooker.