Luke Fickell and College Football's Worst Can't-Win Coaching Jobs Ever

Luke Fickell has been thrown to the fire after the sudden departure of Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel following the turmoil in Columbus this offseason. Fickell has to come in and take over a national powerhouse program—and without Terrelle Pryor. Plus, several of the Buckeyes' best playmakers are suspended for the first five games of the season.

(For more on Fickell’s precarious position, check out Bleacher Report's own Tim Bielik’s column.)

Fickell will be stepping into the role pseudo-voluntarily vacated by Tressel. In 10 years at the Ohio State University, Tressel won six Big Ten Championships and one National Championship.

First-time head coach Fickell is stepping into some huge shoes to fill, to say the least. Tressel’s departure not only hurts Ohio State's recruiting, but Fickell is also not exactly the big name to right the ship for the Buckeyes on the recruiting front.

It could be a short tenure for Fickell in Columbus, but he’s kind of walking into a lose-lose situation.

Let's take a look at some other coaches in the recent past who have been set up for disappointment after replacing a program's big-name coach.

Derek Dooley replacing Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee

Phillip Fulmer's Resume at Tennessee

Seasons: 16

Bowl Wins: Eight

Conference Division Championships: Six

Conference Championships: Two

National Championships: One

Derek Dooley comes in with four years of head coaching experience, one at Tennessee and three at Louisiana Tech. In those four seasons, Dooley only has one winning campaign to his credit, going 8-5 at Louisiana Tech in 2008.

Dooley and the Volunteers have started 2011 at 2-0, but that could change quickly as the Vols face Florida this afternoon.

Ray Goff Replacing Vince Dooley at Georgia

Vince Dooley's Resume at Georgia

Seasons: 25

Bowl Wins: Eight

Conference Championships: Six

National Championships: One

Vince Dooley is probably the most revered coach in UGA history—you would have to go back to Wally Butts to come close. Dooley brought the Bulldogs their only National Championship in school history.

Ray Goff stepped into some pretty lofty expectations and fell way short. Lasting eight seasons in Athens, Goff only won more than six games in a season twice and never won a conference championship.

Ron Zook Replacing Steve Spurrier at Florida

Steve Spurrier's Resume at Florida

Seasons: 12

Bowl Wins: Six

Conference Division Championships: Eight

Conference Championships: Six

National Championships: One

Steve Spurrier had one of the most dominant runs in the SEC in modern history. The Gators won the SEC East eight of Spurrier's 12 seasons at Florida.

Throw in six SEC Championships and a National Championship, and Spurrier is probably the most efficiently successful coach in Florida history.

Exit Spurrier and enter Zook—bust. Zook only lasted three season in Gainesville, never posting more than eight wins in a season.

Zook also never won a bowl game with the Gators.