Luke Fickell: 'You Can't Leave a Legacy in a Few Years'

The Bearcats coach dove into why he chose to stay at UC with Jim Rome.
Luke Fickell: 'You Can't Leave a Legacy in a Few Years'
Luke Fickell: 'You Can't Leave a Legacy in a Few Years' /

CINCINNATI — Plenty of blue-chip college football programs were interested in Luke Fickell after last season, but the Bearcats coach wasn't receptive. He dove into the why behind all of those "No's" with Jim Rome this week.

"I think you're definitely right," Fickell said to Rome describing the coach's commitment to Cincinnati. "In order to leave a legacy, you can't do that in just a few years. I know all things are different and you gotta do what you believe is best, and everybody's gotta do what they believe is best. But for me, for my family and all that we do, this is a place that we love and a place where I feel we can grow.

"We are nowhere close to where we can be, and I mean that not just as a football team, but I mean that as a whole. There is so much growth that keeps me incredibly motivated...Not being able to play anymore, coaching is the next best thing. You don't lose that competitive fire, and no matter what—if I feel like I can grow—I feel like I'm in the right place."

Bearcats fans surely hope that room for growth is endless until Fickell retires. With a career UC record of 48-15, Fickell is just six wins away from passing Rick Minter (1994-2003) for the most wins in program history.

Minter did it in 10 seasons, while Fickell will hit that mark in just six years. Among coaches to stay for at least two seasons—the current Bearcats coach is second to Brian Kelly (85%) in all-time winning percentage (Fickell, 76.2%).

Watch the full answer below.

Make sure you bookmark All Bearcats for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more.

You May Also Like:

Cincinnati Cracks West Virginia Transfer Sean McNeil's Top-Six School

Eight Bearcats Selected in Latest Seven-Round Mock Draft

Peter King: Desmond Ridder 'Likely' a First-Round Pick

Pinging The Portal: Cincinnati Stays Focused on Pair of Guard Targets

Four-Star 2023 Guard Rayvon Griffith Places Cincinnati in Top-Five Schools

Takeaways From UC's 2022 Spring Game

Watch: Luke Fickell and Gino Guidugli Give their Thoughts on 2022 UC Spring Game

National Analyst Praises Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner: 'He Might Be the Biggest Slam Dunk' in 2022 NFL Draft

Dan Orlovsky: Desmond Ridder 'Has The Best Quarterbacking Tape' in 2022 NFL Draft

Bearcats Land in Top-25 of ESPN's Initial 2023 Football Class Rankings

Derek Stingley Jr. Impresses at 'Freakish' 2022 Pro Day; Ahmad Gardner Lines up Top-15 Team Visits

Report: Desmond Ridder Visiting Multiple Teams in Top-20

Five Players to Watch in UC's 2022 Spring Game

Recruiting Roundup: UC Basketball Offers Pair of Top-100 2024 Players

Report: Desmond Ridder ‘Buzzing in League Circles’

Two Bearcats Taken in Top 10 of Latest 2022 NFL Mock Draft

Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner Moves Ahead of Kyle Hamilton, Becomes Top Defensive Back on Latest 2022 NFL Draft Big Board

Old Dominion Transfer Forward Kalu Ezipke Places UC in Top-Six School Choices

Three Centers Cincinnati Needs to Target in the Transfer Portal

Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner Has Private Meeting With Head Coach of Team Picking in Top Five Following Pro Day

Desmond Ridder States Case to be First Quarterback Selected in 2022 NFL Draft

Three Positions to Watch as UC Football Kicks off 2022 Spring Practice

Luke Fickell Earns Top-10 Status on Multiple 'Best CFB Coaches' Lists

ESPN Names Luke Fickell the Best CFB Coaching Hire Over Past Five Years

Report: Cincinnati Partners With Brandr to Expand NIL Opportunities

Bearcats Q&A: A Ball-Handling Discussion With Mika Adams-Woods

Look: UC Football Team Honored at Cincinnati City Hall

Cincinnati AD John Cunningham Comments on 'Possibility' Nippert Stadium Expands

-----

Be sure to keep it locked on All Bearcats all the time!

Follow All Bearcats on Twitter: @AllBearcats

Like All Bearcats on FaceBook: All Bearcats

Follow All Bearcats on Instagram: @BearcatsTalk


Published
Russ Heltman
RUSS HELTMAN

Russ Heltman is a contributor for AllBearcats and AllBengals. He is the morning host and producer for 89.3 WMKV in Cincinnati, OH. Russ can be found on Twitter: @RussHeltman11 or you can reach him by email at Heltmandm@yahoo.com.