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Luke Fickell Named AFCA Regional Coach of the Year, Finalist for National Award

The Bearcats have not lost in the regular season over the past two years.

Russ Heltman

Luke Fickell Named AFCA Regional Coach of the Year, Finalist for National Award
Luke Fickell Named AFCA Regional Coach of the Year, Finalist for National Award /

CINCINNATI — the American Football Coaches Association announced that Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell is the 2021 Region 1 Coach of the Year. The honor makes Fickell a finalist for the AFCA National Coach of the year.

Beginning in 1960, the AFCA has handed out the awards annually to the most accomplished coaches in the country. The other winners/finalists include Arkansas’ Sam Pittman, Michigan State's Mel Tucker, UTSA's Jeff Traylor, and Utah State's Blake Anderson.

Fickell (48-14) is on track to become the program's winningest head coach and is a three-time AAC Coach of the Year. He is six wins away from passing Rich Minter (53-63) for the most wins in program history. His team has lost one game over the past two seasons; none in AAC play.

While the AFCA committee was releasing the news, Fickell and cornerbacks coach Perry Eliano were in Alabama, visiting four-star 2022 cornerback commit JQ Hardaway.

The train never slows down for great coaches like Fickell, who will learn the winner of National Coach of the Year on Sunday, Jan. 9. The Bearcats coach would surely love to pair that award with a National Championship trophy the next night.

First up is Alabama in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31. The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. from AT&T Stadium.

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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.

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