Luke Fickell to Cincinnati: Latest Contract Details and Reaction

The Cincinnati Bearcats wasted no time finding their next head coach, tapping Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell as the next man to lead the program. 

Cincinnati announced the move on Saturday. Barrett Sallee of Bleacher Report provided a statement from the team:

Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com initially reported Fickell and Cincinnati agreed to a deal. Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel, citing a source, reported on Sunday that "Fickell's contract with Cincinnati averages $2.3 million for six years. Buyout is $3.5 million. Goes down by $500,000 annually."

Cincinnati said Fickell will continue to serve as Ohio State's defensive coordinator through their playoff run, per Tim Shoemaker of Eleven Warriors. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer spoke about Fickell joining Cincinnati, per Matt Fortuna of ESPN:

Fickell may not be the only person from Columbus joining the Bearcats, as Tom Groeschen of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported Ohio State cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs could join Fickell's staff as defensive coordinator. 

Cincinnati is coming off a 4-8 season, the program's worst record since 2010. Last Sunday, Tommy Tuberville released a statement announcing his resignation as head coach, via the school's official athletics website:

"

After much thought and reflection, I have decided to step down and resign from my position here at the University of Cincinnati. I want to thank the board of trustees, the administration, the fans and the University for these last four years. I also want to thank our coaches, staff and anyone associated within our athletic department. Most of all, I will miss these players but know these young men will turn out to be outstanding leaders in the world and for me that is what it's all about. 

"

The Bearcats took a step back during Tuberville's four years at the helm. Cincinnati won 10 games each of the previous two years before his arrival, including consecutive bowl wins in 2011 and 2012. Under Tuberville, it posted a disappointing 29-22 record and lost all three of its bowl appearances. 

Fickell has been with Ohio State since 2002. He served as interim head coach in 2011 following Jim Tressel's resignation, and the Buckeyes posted a 6-7 season. Because of what was happening with the program at the time, though, it would be unfair to blame those struggles on him.

Regarding his long stint with the Buckeyes, Fickell told Doug Lesmerises of Cleveland.com he's had an interesting relationship with the program:

"

Being here is a blessing and a curse. It's the greatest thing that has happened to my family. It's been stable and you made great memories. The curse is it hasn't pushed you to go do some of these other things.

If you're at a place that is not this tradition-rich, where you don't have these roots, maybe it's different. But I'm in an incredible place, so you think we don't have to go.

"

It will take time to rebuild the Bearcats following their recent decline, but Fickell comes from one of the nation's top programs and has worked with one of the best recruiters in Meyer since 2012. 

Also, he's only 43, hardly an old man in coaching circles, and knows the state probably as well as any football coach. His extensive resume likely made this an easy choice for the Bearcats.