With the departure of University of Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell for Wisconsin, it’s time to start looking at names of coaches the Bearcats could be looking at to replace their newly departed head coach.
In each article, we’ll look at a handful of names Bearcats Director of Athletics John Cunningham could be looking towards as his newest head football coach.
BRIAN HARTLINE
CURRENT JOB: Ohio State – WR Coach/Passing Game Coordinator
AGE: 36 YEARS
PAST COACHING JOBS: College Assistant: Ohio State (2017 – Present).
There is a lot of talk about Hartline and the Bearcats’ job. Does Cunningham take a chance on a young up-and-comer many feels has a super bright future? Or does he play it safe and get someone with more experience? I’ve watched Hartline during his prep, college, and NFL playing career, and he’s always been the guy no one pays much attention to until he’s beaten you. He’ll also have one assistant coach in place with brother Mike Hartline, who just took a job at Charlotte.
Feel Hartline should be given an interview, but not ready just yet to run a Power 5 program.
KEVIN WILSON
CURRENT JOB: Ohio State – Offensive Coordinator / Tight Ends
AGE: 61 YEARS
PAST COACHING JOBS: College Assistant: North Carolina, Winston-Salem State, North Carolina A&T, Miami (Ohio), Northwestern, Oklahoma, Ohio State. College Head Coach: Indiana (2011 – 2016).
Wilson comes from the Randy Walker coaching tree working at Miami (Ohio) and Northwestern before jumping to Oklahoma and working for Bob Stoops. He is known for his high-powered offensive attack, and after leaving Indiana due to philosophical differences, he was quickly picked up by Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer.
Fully understand recruiting Ohio and the Midwest, along with the background recruiting areas that will open when the Bearcats get into the Big 12; Wilson may not be a fancy name, but he should be a name considered.
VINCE MARROW
CURRENT JOB: Kentucky – Associate HC / Tight Ends
AGE: 54 YEARS
PAST COACHING JOBS: College Assistant: Toledo, Nebraska, Kentucky (2013 – Present).
Marrow gets a lot of credit and deserves it for helping Mark Stoops turn around the football program at the University of Kentucky. Marrow’s work as one of the top recruiters in all of college football has not gone unnoticed, as several programs have worked to hire him away from the Wildcats. Marrow is a grinder on the recruiting trail; some feel his time is coming to move from an assistant to a head coach. Will the Bearcats take a look?
JESSE MINTER
CURRENT JOB: Michigan – Defensive Coordinator
AGE: 39 YEARS
PAST COACHING JOBS: College Assistant: Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Indiana State, Georgia State, Vanderbilt, Michigan (2022 – Present). NFL: Baltimore Ravens (2019 – 2020).
With the success of his defense this year at Michigan, Minter is getting a lot of talk about his coaching future. Cincinnati fans know the name as his dad, Rick Minter, was the Bearcats, longtime head coach. Minter was named a finalist for the Broyles Award early this week. The past several seasons have been good for Minter, and we see a bright future ahead of him. With no previous head coaching experience, who will give Minter his shot?
CHRIS CREIGHTON
CURRENT JOB: Eastern Michigan – Head Coach
AGE: 53 YEARS
PAST COACHING JOBS: College Assistant: Concordia, Manchester, College Head Coach: Ottawa, Wabash, Drake, Eastern Michigan (2014 – Present).
I’ve been around many college coaches, and Creighton is one I respect a ton. He may not be a fancy name, but he’s a coach who worked his way up, took on a program like Eastern Michigan that had not had a winning season for 18 years, fought off calls by the faculty union and student government to drop down to the FCS level and made it competitive, earning multiple bowl game invites and building new facilities.
His name has been up for multiple jobs, and he’s the type of coach players love. With his background, Creighton is a coach more should be talking about as he’s organized and has a full grasp of the recruiting landscape needed to be in charge of the Bearcats program.
MIKE DENBROCK
CURRENT JOB: LSU – Offensive Coordinator / Tight Ends
AGE: 58 YEARS
PAST COACHING JOBS: College Assistant: Grand Valley State, Michigan State, Illinois State, Stanford, Notre Dame, Washington, Indiana State, Cincinnati, LSU.
The Cincinnati fan base knows all about Denbrock, as he worked under Luke Fickell from 2017 – 2021 before rejoining Brian Kelly at LSU. While Denbrock has no head coaching experience, he’s been in crucial coaching positions at significant programs for many of his college football years. An offensive-minded coach, Denbrock knows about the majority of the roster in Clifton and could hit the ground running with his deep background of recruiting Ohio and the Midwest.
**NOTE: The names listed above are for enjoyment to discuss the coaching search at the University of Cincinnati. There will be many names listed across the internet in the coming days.
