Bickel promoted to Cap top job Capital president Denvy Bowman has announced that Jim Bickel has been named football coach. "We are very fortunate to have a coach of Jim's ability in our program. Jim understands that our goal is to develop student athletes to their highest intellectual and physical potential," said Bowman. "Jim has more than three decades of coaching experience and has been integral to the success of our football program for the past seven years. We have complete confidence in Jim and his ability to keep the program moving forward." Bickel replaces Jim Collins, who took the head coaching job at Division II Saginaw Valley State in late December. "I appreciate the opportunity that is being provided to me by Dr. Bowman and the entire Capital University community," said Bickel. "I look forward to working with the administration, faculty, staff, alumni and student-athletes in the continued growth and success of the football program here at Capital." Bickel is the ninth head coach in school history and has served as associate head coach/defensive coordinator for the past seven seasons. Bickel's impact on the Capital program has been a smart, aggressive defense that has produced a national defensive player of the year, an All-American player in each of the last seven seasons, nine Academic All-OAC selections, an Academic All-American, a school-record 50 sacks in 2007 and a school-record 27 interceptions in 2002. Bickel has twice been named Ohio Athletic Conference Assistant Coach of the Year including this past season when the Crusaders finished as the nation's No. 2 ranked defense. "Jim Bickel is a player's coach and an extremely experienced Division III tactician. He will carry on the great tradition that Coach Collins and previous Crusader coaches have firmly established," said Jim Tressel, Ohio State head football coach. "He is an excellent choice." Bickel has been a part of college football in Central Ohio for the past 31 seasons, beginning in 1977 when he became an assistant coach at his alma mater, Denison. In 21 seasons with the Big Red, Bickel coached both the offensive and defensive lines for a combined nine seasons and was defensive coordinator for 12 seasons. Through his tenure as defensive coordinator, Denison won a pair of North Coast Athletic Conference championships (1985-86) and one NCAA Division III playoff appearance (1985). Aside from his football coaching duties, he was an assistant professor of physical education and an assistant baseball coach. In 1999, Bickel came to Columbus to become the defensive coordinator at Otterbein. In 2000, his Cardinal defense led the OAC in passing defense and was third in total defense. "I have no doubt that Jim has the skills to keep the Capital University football program at its high level of achievement. He has a great football mind and is someone who really understands the game inside and out," said two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, whose son was on Collins' staff at Capital. "Perhaps more importantly, Jim is a people person who does a great job of connecting with others, whether it's his players, his coaches, or a prospective recruit. He is the type of guy you can meet once and have an understanding of what he is all about. Jim is going to do a great job in keeping Capital at the top of our nation's best Division III football conference, and I know he'll help them move toward a Stagg Bowl. This was a great hire for Capital University." In his time at Capital, Bickel, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, has served as an instructor within the department of health and sport sciences. He also has been an assistant athletic director responsible for game management for the Crusaders spring sports, (baseball, softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's golf and men's and women's track & field). The Newark, Ohio, native holds a bachelor's degree from Denison (1977) in speech communications and economics and a master's degree in physical education from Ohio State (1981). He and his wife, Kathy, reside in Columbus and have three grown children and six grandchildren. | |
| Permalink | Jan 14, 2008 | |
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