Luke Fickell's defense played its best as Ohio State rolled through the 2014 post-season.
To no surprise, that's when the Buckeyes as a whole performed better than ever before under head coach Urban Meyer. In victories against Wisconsin (Big Ten Championship), Alabama (Sugar Bowl) and Oregon (National Championship), Fickell's unit kept three 2014 Heisman Trophy finalists at bay enough for the Buckeyes to reach the zenith of college football.
Fickell was much maligned following poor performances from the Ohio State defense toward the end of the 2013 season against Michigan, Michigan State and Clemson. Some in Columbus called for Fickell's job, but Meyer stuck by him, and in turn helped get him a raise following the national title-winning season.
Fickell is set to earn $640,000 in base salary for the 2015 season, a 6.66 percent jump from the $600,000 he earned the last two seasons.
| Coach | Position | Base |
|---|---|---|
| URBAN MEYER | HC | $5,800,000 |
| LUKE FICKELL | CO-DC/LB | $640,000 |
| ED WARINNER | OC/OL | $600,000 |
| CHRIS ASH | CO-DC/S | $590,000 |
| TIM BECK | CO-OC/QB | $525,000 |
| TONY ALFORD | AHC/RB | $400,000 |
| LARRY JOHNSON | AHC/DL | $400,000 |
| KERRY COOMBS | CB/ST | $300,000 |
| TIM HINTON | TE/FB | $286,004 |
| ZACH SMITH | WR | $170,035 |
The figures are a result of an open records request submitted by Eleven Warriors Sept. 14 and filled by Ohio State Tuesday.
The boost in money keeps Fickell as Meyer's highest paid assistant on staff. Ohio State rewarded Ed Warinner a massive raise following the 2014 season as well, who now earns a base of $600,000. Both he and Fickell's contracts are one-year agreements.
Fickell signed his new deal Sept. 16, the record shows, but Ohio State Vice President and Director of Athletics Gene Smith did not do the same until Sept. 28. Senior Vice President for Business and Finance and CFO Geoffrey Chatas signed it a day after Smith.
Fickell's old contract expired April 30. That means he worked under a verbal agreement for a new deal for more than five months, something that is not uncommon at Ohio State as new contracts must first be approved by the Board of Trustees.
Much like in Warinner's new deal, Fickell is set to earn an 8.5 percent salary bump if Ohio State wins a Big Ten East division title in 2015, a 4.25 percent salary bonus for taking home a Big Ten Championship and an additional 8.5 percent salary bonus if the Buckeyes make the College Football Playoff. An at least nine-game season that ends in a non-College Football Playoff bowl game results in a 4.25 percent salary bonus.
Fickell's new deal also warrants him a 21.25 percent bonus if the Buckeyes make the College Football Playoff, but not the finals. If Ohio State makes it to the national championship game in January, he instead earns a 25 percent bonus instead of the 21.25 percent reward, just like Warinner.
Any bonus earned by Fickell is to be provided by the university within 60 days of the conclusion of each game, bowl or College Football Playoff affair, according to the contract.
And, just like Warinner, Fickell is allotted a $600 per month car allowance, six football season tickets and two men's basketball season tickets under his new contract.
Ohio State's defense finished 47th nationally in 2013, allowing 377.4 total yards per game. With the addition of Chris Ash to Fickell's defensive staff, the two helped the unit improve immensely last season: The Buckeyes finished 19th overall in total defense while giving up 342.4 yards per game. Ohio State is ranked 14th in the country in total defense through five games in 2015, allowing just 283.0 yards per game, a big reason the Buckeyes remain unbeaten and atop the rankings.
Ohio State hosts Maryland Saturday at noon.
