Football
Mickens, Mike
vs
Liberty
Sep 13 (Sat)
5 p.m.
Mike Mickens
- Title:
- Assistant Football Coach (Cornerbacks)
- Email:
- falconrecruit@bgsu.edu
Mike Mickens enters his fourth season at BGSU in 2017 and his second as an assistant to head coach Mike Jinks. Mickens coaches cornerbacks for the Falcons.
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 has has previously coached at Indiana State and Cincinnati, in addition to Idaho.
He 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.
As a collegian, he is Cincinnati’s career leader in interceptions (14) as well as interception return yards (296). He was named an All-American in 2007 and 2008 and was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. Additionally Mickens was named All-Big East four times during his career, twice on the first team and twice on the second team.
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. He is married to his wife, Jessica.
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 has has previously coached at Indiana State and Cincinnati, in addition to Idaho.
He 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.
As a collegian, he is Cincinnati’s career leader in interceptions (14) as well as interception return yards (296). He was named an All-American in 2007 and 2008 and was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. Additionally Mickens was named All-Big East four times during his career, twice on the first team and twice on the second team.
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. He is married to his wife, Jessica.
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