CINCINNATI β€” University of Cincinnati football coach Luke Fickell received his third coaching accolade of the 2021 season after being named the Home Depot Coach of the Year.


What You Need To Know

  • Luke Fickell was named the Home Depot Coach of the Year

  • Fickell was named the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and the Werner Ladder AFCA Region One Coach of the Year

  • Fickell took over the UC program in 2016 after 16 years at Ohio State

The award is the most recent after Fickell was named the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and the Werner Ladder AFCA Region One Coach of the Year for the 2021 season.

In his fifth season as coach of the Bearcats, Fickell led his team to an undefeated regular season, a second-consecutive AAC title and a spot in the Cotton Bowl versus No. 1 Alabama in the College Football Playoff.

His team featured 12 All-AAC First Team selections, including unanimous AAC Defensive Player of the Year cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner and Offensive Player of the Year quarterback Desmond Ridder.

Fickell took over the UC program in 2016 after 16 years at Ohio State, including a season as interim head coach.

He is the second UC head coach to win The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award, joining recently-hired LSU coach Brian Kelly, who won the award in 2009.

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