Cincinnati HC Luke Fickell Wins Coach Of The Year Award

Now that he's guided No. 4 Cincinnati (13-0) to a College Football Playoff berth, head coach Luke Fickell has picked up a prestigious honor.

Fickell was named the Home Depot Coach of the Year on Tuesday, the second consecutive year the award has gone to a Group of Five head coach. The award went to Coastal Carolina’s Jamey Chadwell in 2020 after he led the Chanticleers to an 11-1 record.

Fickell, 48, will receive the award during the 31st annual The Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN.

In five seasons under Fickell, Cincinnati has gone 48-14, winning the AAC crown in back-to-back seasons in 2020 and 2021. It took consecutive undefeated regular seasons and a down year in the ACC and Pac-12 for the committee to allow a Group of Five team into the Playoff, but Fickell has accomplished just that.

In the craziness that is the college football coaching carousel, Fickell was rumored to be on his way out. Multiple reports had Fickell penciled in for Notre Dame after Brian Kelly departed for LSU, but Fickell stayed put.

Next up for Fickell is playing flag bearer for the Group of Five in the College Football Playoff semifinal against No. 1 Alabama at the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Eve at 3:30 p.m.