HERE’S A BARSTOOL QUESTION. Who is the most important coach/manager in Cincinnati in the past 30 or so years? I didn’t say best. Most important. Lou Piniella? Bob Huggins? Brian Kelly?
Not to me.
Luke Fickell claims that title, and it’s not even close.
Piniella won our only championship, but the Reds of Pete Rose were almost as good just before Lou arrived. He didn’t resurrect, he merely finished the job. Huggins returned UC hoops to the map, but not without embarrassment. Kelly is in the Most Important photo. But, you know, he left as soon as he could.