In December 2016, Luke Fickell signed on to be the 42nd head coach in the history of the University of Cincinnati football program. Five years later, Fickell has done the unthinkable, making the Bearcats the first Group of Five team to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.
The 48-year-old coach was rewarded for his work Tuesday, being named The Home Depot Coach of the Year.
More:Cincinnati at No. 4 becomes first Group of Five team to crack College Football Playoff
The honor, which is decided by ESPN and ABC college football analysts, is presented annually to the top head coach in college football.