TicketsFormer University of Cincinnati standout cornerback Mike Mickens joined the football staff in 2018 as the cornerbacks coach.
Mickens has been part of a UC staff which coached the Bearcats to back-to-back 11-win seasons in 2018 and 2019, the 2019 American Athletic Conference East Division Championship and consecutive bowl-game wins in the 2018 Military Bowl and 2019 TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl.
The Bearcats finished atop the 2019 AAC ranks in scoring defense for the second-straight season and ranked among the league's top three in rushing and total defense. Mickens coached true freshman Ahmad Gardner to an award-winning freshman campaign as the cornerback earned spots on the FWAA Freshman All-America Team, PFF's Third-Team All-America and All-Freshman Team, The Athletic's Freshman All-America team and a First-Team All-AAC selection.
The 2018 Black Cats Defense led the American in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense and ranked among the Top-15 in the NCAA FBS in all three categories.
The two-time All-America cornerback returned to his alma mater after four years coaching corners at Bowling Green.
The Falcons defense forced 24 turnovers in 2017 while Marcus Milton and Clint Stephens tied for the team lead with three interceptions apiece.
In 2016, Mickens managed a youthful unit that had been ravaged by injuries throughout the season. Veterans Will Watson and Alfonso Mack missed large portions of the season and freshman Cam Jefferies was thrust into a starting role along with sophomores Marcus Milton and Robert Jackson Jr. That trio earned valuable experience, starting a combined 13 games on the back end of the defensive unit. While the cornerbacks combined for just two interceptions on the season, they gained confidence throughout and were critical during the team’s three-game winning streak to end the 2016 season.
Mickens’ cornerbacks were crucial in the Falcons’ 2015 drive to win a second MAC championship in three years. BGSU was the only MAC team with more interceptions (20) than touchdown passes allowed (19), which contributed to a MAC-best +12 turnover ratio. The Falcons were second in the MAC in opponent’s passer efficiency (119.8). Mack, in his first full season of play, tied for second in the MAC with six interceptions and was one of the team leaders with 58 tackles. Mack had interceptions in three straight mid-season games, then produced a season-best eight tackles and an interception in BGSU’s MAC Championship Game victory over Northern Illinois.
The 2014 season featured several milestones for Mickens’ cornerbacks. Jude Adjei-Barimah, who made the switch after playing rover in 2013, finished third on the team with 82 tackles. He was also third on the team with 12 passes defensed. Mickens mentored two true freshmen cornerbacks in 2014 who combined for nine interceptions. Nick Johnson finished the year with five interceptions – tied for most in school history among true freshman with Martin Bayless (1980). The pair of corners were the only two true freshmen in the nation to record more than four interceptions on the season.
Mickens came to Bowling Green from Idaho, where he coached under head coach Paul Petrino.
He started his coaching career as a defensive assistant at Cincinnati and Indiana State.
Mickens was drafted by Dallas in the 2009 NFL Draft. He wound up playing for both Tampa Bay and Cincinnati as well as the Calgary Stampeders before retiring because of injury.
Mickens was a four-year letterwinner at UC (2005-08) and is the school's career leader in interceptions (14) and interception return yards (296). The 2008 Playboy and FWAA All-America selection was a semifinalist for the 2008 Jim Thorpe Award, a First-Team All-BIG EAST pick and two-time Second-Team All-BIG EAST Conference selection.
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Mickens is a graduate of Wayne High School where he was a two-time All-Greater Western Ohio Conference cornerback and helped the Warriors to a 24-9 record as well as two league titles during his three seasons. He recorded 205 tackles, 10 interceptions and returned a kickoff for a touchdown and won the Ohio State 300-meter hurdles championship as a junior.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Cincinnati in 2011. Mickens and his wife Jessica have a daughter, Millie.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: July 24, 1987
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio
Wife: Jessica
Children: Millie
Education: Cincinnati (2011, B.S.)
Year In Coaching: 10th
PLAYING CAREER
2005-08: Cincinnati (Cornerback)
2009: Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, Calgary Stampeders
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Years: Team - Position
2011: Cincinnati - Defensive Assistant
2012: Indiana State - Defensive Assistant
2013: Idaho - Cornerbacks
2014-17: Bowling Green - Cornerbacks
2018-: Cincinnati - Cornerbacks
BOWL GAMES COACHED IN
Year: School - Bowl
2011: Cincinnati - Liberty
2014: Bowling Green - Camellia
2015: Bowling Green - GoDaddy
2018: Cincinnati - Military
2019: Cincinnati - Birmingham
BOWL GAMES PLAYED IN
Year: Bowl Game - Bowl
2006: Cincinnati - International
2007: Cincinnati - PapaJohns.com
2008: Cincinnati - Orange
Mickens has been part of a UC staff which coached the Bearcats to back-to-back 11-win seasons in 2018 and 2019, the 2019 American Athletic Conference East Division Championship and consecutive bowl-game wins in the 2018 Military Bowl and 2019 TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl.
The Bearcats finished atop the 2019 AAC ranks in scoring defense for the second-straight season and ranked among the league's top three in rushing and total defense. Mickens coached true freshman Ahmad Gardner to an award-winning freshman campaign as the cornerback earned spots on the FWAA Freshman All-America Team, PFF's Third-Team All-America and All-Freshman Team, The Athletic's Freshman All-America team and a First-Team All-AAC selection.
The 2018 Black Cats Defense led the American in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense and ranked among the Top-15 in the NCAA FBS in all three categories.
The two-time All-America cornerback returned to his alma mater after four years coaching corners at Bowling Green.
The Falcons defense forced 24 turnovers in 2017 while Marcus Milton and Clint Stephens tied for the team lead with three interceptions apiece.
In 2016, Mickens managed a youthful unit that had been ravaged by injuries throughout the season. Veterans Will Watson and Alfonso Mack missed large portions of the season and freshman Cam Jefferies was thrust into a starting role along with sophomores Marcus Milton and Robert Jackson Jr. That trio earned valuable experience, starting a combined 13 games on the back end of the defensive unit. While the cornerbacks combined for just two interceptions on the season, they gained confidence throughout and were critical during the team’s three-game winning streak to end the 2016 season.
Mickens’ cornerbacks were crucial in the Falcons’ 2015 drive to win a second MAC championship in three years. BGSU was the only MAC team with more interceptions (20) than touchdown passes allowed (19), which contributed to a MAC-best +12 turnover ratio. The Falcons were second in the MAC in opponent’s passer efficiency (119.8). Mack, in his first full season of play, tied for second in the MAC with six interceptions and was one of the team leaders with 58 tackles. Mack had interceptions in three straight mid-season games, then produced a season-best eight tackles and an interception in BGSU’s MAC Championship Game victory over Northern Illinois.
The 2014 season featured several milestones for Mickens’ cornerbacks. Jude Adjei-Barimah, who made the switch after playing rover in 2013, finished third on the team with 82 tackles. He was also third on the team with 12 passes defensed. Mickens mentored two true freshmen cornerbacks in 2014 who combined for nine interceptions. Nick Johnson finished the year with five interceptions – tied for most in school history among true freshman with Martin Bayless (1980). The pair of corners were the only two true freshmen in the nation to record more than four interceptions on the season.
Mickens came to Bowling Green from Idaho, where he coached under head coach Paul Petrino.
He started his coaching career as a defensive assistant at Cincinnati and Indiana State.
Mickens was drafted by Dallas in the 2009 NFL Draft. He wound up playing for both Tampa Bay and Cincinnati as well as the Calgary Stampeders before retiring because of injury.
Mickens was a four-year letterwinner at UC (2005-08) and is the school's career leader in interceptions (14) and interception return yards (296). The 2008 Playboy and FWAA All-America selection was a semifinalist for the 2008 Jim Thorpe Award, a First-Team All-BIG EAST pick and two-time Second-Team All-BIG EAST Conference selection.
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Mickens is a graduate of Wayne High School where he was a two-time All-Greater Western Ohio Conference cornerback and helped the Warriors to a 24-9 record as well as two league titles during his three seasons. He recorded 205 tackles, 10 interceptions and returned a kickoff for a touchdown and won the Ohio State 300-meter hurdles championship as a junior.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Cincinnati in 2011. Mickens and his wife Jessica have a daughter, Millie.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: July 24, 1987
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio
Wife: Jessica
Children: Millie
Education: Cincinnati (2011, B.S.)
Year In Coaching: 10th
PLAYING CAREER
2005-08: Cincinnati (Cornerback)
2009: Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, Calgary Stampeders
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Years: Team - Position
2011: Cincinnati - Defensive Assistant
2012: Indiana State - Defensive Assistant
2013: Idaho - Cornerbacks
2014-17: Bowling Green - Cornerbacks
2018-: Cincinnati - Cornerbacks
BOWL GAMES COACHED IN
Year: School - Bowl
2011: Cincinnati - Liberty
2014: Bowling Green - Camellia
2015: Bowling Green - GoDaddy
2018: Cincinnati - Military
2019: Cincinnati - Birmingham
BOWL GAMES PLAYED IN
Year: Bowl Game - Bowl
2006: Cincinnati - International
2007: Cincinnati - PapaJohns.com
2008: Cincinnati - Orange