Northwestern University Athletics
LaMarcus Hicks Joins Staff as Cornerbacks Coach
3/29/2023 1:51:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. – LaMarcus Hicks has been named Northwestern's cornerbacks coach, Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald announced on Wednesday.
Hicks joins the Wildcats after spending last season in the same role with Utah State. In total, Hicks owns 11 years of coaching experience in the college ranks, having previously spent time working with the secondaries at Utah State, Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green, Jackson State, North Texas, and Concordia.
Prior to coaching, Hicks spent two seasons as a defensive back for the Detroit Lions, appearing in 12 games and recording 12 tackles from 2007-08 after originally signing as an undrafted free agent in 2006.
Last season with Utah State, Hicks' Aggies allowed just 205 passing yards per game (31st in the nation) while recording 11 interceptions. Prior to joining Utah State in 2022, Hicks spent two seasons as the cornerbacks coach at Eastern Michigan, including serving as the team's defensive recruiting coordinator in 2021
During the 2021 season, Hicks helped Eastern Michigan to a 7-6 record and an appearance in the Lending Tree Bowl. The Eagles finished the season ranking third in the Mid-American Conference and 32nd in the nation with nine fumble recoveries, and was fifth in the MAC with eight interceptions. Hicks also mentored Alvinoski LaFleur, who played in the Tropical Bowl All-Star game.
In 2020, Hicks was an integral part of an EMU defensive staff that orchestrated one of the best red zone approaches in all of college football. Eastern Michigan held opponents scoreless in the red zone eight times in 28 attempts, making EMU the top red zone defense in the MAC and the seventh-best in the nation. The Eagles' defense also proved to be successful at forcing turnovers throughout its six games in 2020, recovering nine fumbles (ranked first in the MAC, 11th nationally) while recording three interceptions.
Prior to his arrival at Eastern Michigan, Hicks spent the previous two years as the secondary coach at Bowling Green State University (2018-19). The Falcons tallied 13 interceptions in Hicks' two seasons at BGSU, while ranking sixth nationally in passing yards allowed during the 2018 campaign at just 167.6 yards per game.
Before his stint at Bowling Green, Hicks spent two years (2016-17) at Jackson State as the safeties coach. Hicks was part of a defense that ranked in the top-40 in the country in total defense at 341.6 yards per contest in 2017. The team ranked No. 29 nationally in passing efficiency allowed (116.68) and No. 16 in passing yards allowed (171.3). In his first season at JSU in 2016, the program ranked in the top-35 nationally in total defense (348.9) and passing yards allowed (188.0).
Prior to that, Hicks coached two years (2014-15) at North Texas. In his first season with the Mean Green, Hicks led the cornerbacks into record-breaking territory in 2014. North Texas had seven different defensive backs tally an interception, which was a school record for most DBs in a single season with at least one pick, including two cornerbacks that had interceptions returned for touchdowns. Cornerback James Jones was named to the Conference-USA second team in 2014 as he was the second-leading tackler and led the team with nine PBUs.
Hicks worked the 2013 season as the defensive backs coach at Concordia University-Ann Arbor. He also worked two seasons (2011-12) at Truman High School in Taylor, Michigan, as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. In 2011, he helped the Cougars improve 15 points per game in scoring defense. The following season, Truman went 9-2 and won its second playoff game in school history while allowing only 11.27 points per game. While at Truman, he also served as the school's head track coach.
Hicks began his coaching career in 2010 at Rhodes (Tennessee) College as the wide receivers coach. Three players at the position were selected all-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
A native of Clarksdale, Mississippi, Hicks spent his collegiate career at Iowa State as a safety, graduating in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in liberal studies. In his senior season with the Cyclones, he recorded a conference-leading five interceptions and was named First Team All-Big 12 Conference and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week twice.
Hicks and his wife, Ashley, are the parents of Markia, LaMarcus II, and two sets of twins, Ashton, Auston, Landon and Layton Hicks.
Coaching History
2022-23 Utah State – Cornerbacks
2021 Eastern Michigan – Cornerbacks/Defensive Recruiting Coordinator
2020 Eastern Michigan – Cornerbacks
2018-19 Bowling Green – Secondary
2016-17 Jackson State – Safeties
2014-15 North Texas – Cornerbacks
2013 Concordia –Defensive Backs
2011-12 Truman (Michigan) HS – Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs
2010 Rhodes College – Wide Receivers
Playing Experience
2006-08 Detroit Lions – Safety
2004-05 Iowa State – Safety
Hicks joins the Wildcats after spending last season in the same role with Utah State. In total, Hicks owns 11 years of coaching experience in the college ranks, having previously spent time working with the secondaries at Utah State, Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green, Jackson State, North Texas, and Concordia.
Prior to coaching, Hicks spent two seasons as a defensive back for the Detroit Lions, appearing in 12 games and recording 12 tackles from 2007-08 after originally signing as an undrafted free agent in 2006.
Last season with Utah State, Hicks' Aggies allowed just 205 passing yards per game (31st in the nation) while recording 11 interceptions. Prior to joining Utah State in 2022, Hicks spent two seasons as the cornerbacks coach at Eastern Michigan, including serving as the team's defensive recruiting coordinator in 2021
During the 2021 season, Hicks helped Eastern Michigan to a 7-6 record and an appearance in the Lending Tree Bowl. The Eagles finished the season ranking third in the Mid-American Conference and 32nd in the nation with nine fumble recoveries, and was fifth in the MAC with eight interceptions. Hicks also mentored Alvinoski LaFleur, who played in the Tropical Bowl All-Star game.
In 2020, Hicks was an integral part of an EMU defensive staff that orchestrated one of the best red zone approaches in all of college football. Eastern Michigan held opponents scoreless in the red zone eight times in 28 attempts, making EMU the top red zone defense in the MAC and the seventh-best in the nation. The Eagles' defense also proved to be successful at forcing turnovers throughout its six games in 2020, recovering nine fumbles (ranked first in the MAC, 11th nationally) while recording three interceptions.
Prior to his arrival at Eastern Michigan, Hicks spent the previous two years as the secondary coach at Bowling Green State University (2018-19). The Falcons tallied 13 interceptions in Hicks' two seasons at BGSU, while ranking sixth nationally in passing yards allowed during the 2018 campaign at just 167.6 yards per game.
Before his stint at Bowling Green, Hicks spent two years (2016-17) at Jackson State as the safeties coach. Hicks was part of a defense that ranked in the top-40 in the country in total defense at 341.6 yards per contest in 2017. The team ranked No. 29 nationally in passing efficiency allowed (116.68) and No. 16 in passing yards allowed (171.3). In his first season at JSU in 2016, the program ranked in the top-35 nationally in total defense (348.9) and passing yards allowed (188.0).
Prior to that, Hicks coached two years (2014-15) at North Texas. In his first season with the Mean Green, Hicks led the cornerbacks into record-breaking territory in 2014. North Texas had seven different defensive backs tally an interception, which was a school record for most DBs in a single season with at least one pick, including two cornerbacks that had interceptions returned for touchdowns. Cornerback James Jones was named to the Conference-USA second team in 2014 as he was the second-leading tackler and led the team with nine PBUs.
Hicks worked the 2013 season as the defensive backs coach at Concordia University-Ann Arbor. He also worked two seasons (2011-12) at Truman High School in Taylor, Michigan, as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. In 2011, he helped the Cougars improve 15 points per game in scoring defense. The following season, Truman went 9-2 and won its second playoff game in school history while allowing only 11.27 points per game. While at Truman, he also served as the school's head track coach.
Hicks began his coaching career in 2010 at Rhodes (Tennessee) College as the wide receivers coach. Three players at the position were selected all-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
A native of Clarksdale, Mississippi, Hicks spent his collegiate career at Iowa State as a safety, graduating in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in liberal studies. In his senior season with the Cyclones, he recorded a conference-leading five interceptions and was named First Team All-Big 12 Conference and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week twice.
Hicks and his wife, Ashley, are the parents of Markia, LaMarcus II, and two sets of twins, Ashton, Auston, Landon and Layton Hicks.
Coaching History
2022-23 Utah State – Cornerbacks
2021 Eastern Michigan – Cornerbacks/Defensive Recruiting Coordinator
2020 Eastern Michigan – Cornerbacks
2018-19 Bowling Green – Secondary
2016-17 Jackson State – Safeties
2014-15 North Texas – Cornerbacks
2013 Concordia –Defensive Backs
2011-12 Truman (Michigan) HS – Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs
2010 Rhodes College – Wide Receivers
Playing Experience
2006-08 Detroit Lions – Safety
2004-05 Iowa State – Safety
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