CAPITAL TO LAUNCH SEARCH FOR NEXT HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
Tuesday, February 2nd 2010 @ 6:45 PM
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Capital University Director of Athletics Dawn Stewart announced on Tuesday that it has started a national search for a new head football coach after Jim Bickel resigned effective immediately. Bickel is leaving Capital after nine seasons on campus including the last two as head coach to become the defensive coordinator at Ohio Dominican University.
“Jim is a good coach with a strong work ethic,” Stewart said. “We appreciate his service to Capital as he has been an integral part of the success of this football program. We wish Jim well in his new role at Ohio Dominican.”
“I truly enjoyed nine great years at Capital,” said Bickel who was named head coach at Capital in 2008 after spending the previous seven seasons as associate head coach/defensive coordinator.
Bickel’s impact on the Capital program has been a smart, aggressive defense that has produced a national defensive player of the year, seven All-American players, a school record 50 quarterback sacks in 2007 and a school-record 27 interceptions in 2002. He has also mentored two OAC Linebacker of the Year honorees (2003, 2008), two OAC Defensive Back of the Year winners (2005, 2007) and a recipient of the OAC Offensive Lineman of the Year (2009) while at Capital. Bickel was twice named the Ohio Athletic Conference Assistant Coach of the Year (2002, 2007).
“I am very grateful to all of the men have played from the Crusaders and I am proud of what has been accomplished by the efforts of our players, coaches, alumni, faculty and staff throughout the years,” Bickel said. “I am appreciative of the opportunities afforded to me by Capital and will be thankful for the fond memories and friendships that I have built over the past nine years.”
Capital closed out the most successful decade in school history with a 7-3 record and a fourth place finish in the Ohio Athletic Conference in 2009. The Crusaders tallied 72 victories in 107 games over the past 10 seasons, which are the second most wins and second best winning percentage in the Ohio Athletic Conference during that time span. CU also made the second most NCAA Tournament appearances in the decade with trips to the postseason in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
News Release By: Bill Thomas, Capital SID
