Mike Mickens is a heck of a coach for the Notre Dame football team. Once upon a time, he was a heck of a player as well. In fact, he was so good, he's being inducted into the Cincinnati Bearcats Hall of Fame later this fall.
Before he joined the Irish, Mickens was a coach for Cincy, and before that, he was one of the best players ever to put on the pads for the now-Big 12 program. The school announced plans to induct him on October 24, which happens to be a bye week for the Fighting Irish.
Hall of Fame nod underscores Mike Mickens’ journey Notre Dame football coach
Alongside the Notre Dame football defensive backs coach, Cincinnati announced former quarterback Tony Pike and former defensive back Tom Marvaso. Mickens was also a defensive back for the Bearcats.
Congratulations to The 2025 James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame Class!
— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) August 4, 2025
Tony Pike (2004-09)
Mike Mickens (2005-08)
Tom Marvaso (1973-75)
They will be formally inducted during Homecoming Weekend on Friday, Oct. 24
Mickens starred for UC from 2005-08, appearing in 47 games across four seasons for head coaches Mark Dantonio and former Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly before he came to South Bend. During his playing days, he tallied 234 total tackles, 9 for a loss, 1 sack, 14 interceptions with 3 returned for touchdowns, and 1 forced fumble.
Mickens was named to the All-Big East squad four times, earning Second Team honors in 2005, 2006, and 2008, while taking home First Team honors in 2007. The player was also named a First-Team All-American in 2007 and a Second-Team All-American in 2008. He was also a semi-finalist for the Thorpe Award in 2008, the award that goes to the best defensive back in the country every year.
Mickens still holds the Cincinnati school records for interceptions and interception return yards with 296.
Due to a bad knee, his NFL career lasted just one season, and then in 2011, he got his first coaching job as a defensive assistant with Cincinnati. After stops at Indiana State, Idaho, and Bowling Green from 2012-17, Mickens returned to his alma mater as defensive backs coach in 2018 and coached there until he followed Kelly to South Bend. He stayed on when Kelly left and is now a trust lieutenant of Marcus Freeman.
This winter, there were some concerns that the Notre Dame football team might lose him to the Texas Longhorns; however, he decided to stick around and has continued a heck of a run.