Frank Hickson - Assistant Coach - Running Backs - Football Coaches

Frank Hickson

Title:
Assistant Coach - Running Backs
Email:
fhickson@liberty.edu

Frank Hickson brings over 24 years of collegiate coaching experience to the Flames’ football coaching staff, including 11 years at the NCAA Division I-A level and 17 years as a running backs coach, the same position he oversees as a part of the Flames’ football program.

Since joining the Flames’ program, Hickson has continued the running back tradition at Liberty. He aided in the Flames finishing the 2004 season ranked 22nd in the nation in rushing (212.2 yards per game). He helped Dre Barnes finish as the school’s all-time leading rushing in 2004 with 4,035 yards.

Hickson was also instrumental in helping guide Liberty’s newest “rising star” and current member of the Miami Dolphins, Samkon Gado, during his senior campaign, and Eugene Goodman of the AFL's Columbus Destroyers. In 2005, Hickson helped running back Zach Terrell become Liberty’s first-ever Big South Rookie of the Year.

In 2006, Hickson instructed one of the best running back tandems in program history. Rashad Jennings became the sixth running back in school history to surpass the 1,000-yard mark, helping Liberty rank No. 19 nationally in rushing yards (195.0 per game). Jennings and Terrell both reached double figures in rushing touchdowns, becoming the second rushing pair to accomplish the feat since 1973.

Under Hickson’s tutelage, the pair of backs continued to flourish, ranking No. 16 nationally as a team by rushing 215.9 yards per game (two yards short of a school record). Liberty also finished the year ranked No. 3 nationally in scoring (42.6 points per game) thanks in part to 32 rushing touchdowns.

Both Jennings and Terrell finished the year with double-figure rushing touchdowns, 15 and 11 respectively, to garner Big South first-team honors. Also, Jennings became Liberty’s second Big South Offensive Player of the Year selection.

Prior to his time at Liberty, Hickson’s served a two-year stint at Oklahoma State as the running backs coach during the 1999 and 2000 seasons. During his time at Oklahoma State, he instructed All-Big 12 running backs Reggie White and Tatem Bell, who is now with the Detroit Lions, while also instructing Tim Burrows, who signed a contract with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.

In 1998, Hickson was the head coach at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. During the 1996 and 1997 seasons, he served as the offensive coordinator and running backs coach at North Texas where he helped the Mean Green post victories over Utah State and in-state rival Texas Tech in 1997. He also coached Juqua Wilburn, North Texas’ all-time leading rusher.

Hickson had a memorable stay at South Carolina for two years (1994 and 1995). He was part of the first Gamecock program to post a victory in a bowl game when South Carolina defeated West Virginia in the 1994 Blockbuster/National Car Rental Bowl game on New Year’s Day. While at South Carolina, Hickson was responsible for the coaching of four NFL running backs in the Arizona Cardinals’ Troy Hambrick, Pittsburgh Steelers’ Duce Staley and former Cincinnati Bengal Brandon Bennett and former Chicago Bear Stanley Pritchett.

Hickson also served as the running backs coach for four years at the United States Naval Academy (1990-93), one year at Temple (1989), three years at Marshall (1986-88), one year at Mesa State College (1985) and two years as a graduate assistant at Wichita State (1983-84), while earning his master’s degree in education.

While at the Naval Academy, Hickson recruited quarterback Chris McCoy, a Heisman Trophy candidate, and defensive back Chris Hart, who are both members of the Hall of Fame at the Naval Academy.

While at Marshall, Hickson helped the Thundering Herd to two NCAA Division I-AA National Championship games in 1987 and 1988. He also assisted Marshall to a third-place national ranking during its 1988 championship-game run. Hickson also coached Ron Darby at Marshall, the Southern Conference’s all-time leader with 6,700 all-purpose yards.

Hickson is a 1983 graduate of Tuskegee in Tuskegee, Ala., where he received his bachelor’s degree in physical education with an emphasis on recreation. He has been a frequent guest speaker for the Frank Glazer National Coaching Clinic since 1994.

The Hickson File

Year at Liberty: Fifth

Coaching Experience:

2004 – Present (4 years) - Liberty (RB)

1999-2000 (2 years) – Oklahoma State (RB)

1998 (1 year) – Morehouse (HC)

1997 (Summer) – Miami Dolphins (NFL) (Internship)

1996-97 (2 years) – North Texas (OC, RB)

1994-95 (2 years) – South Carolina (RB)

1990-93 (4 years) – Navy (RB)

1989 (1 year) – Temple (RB)

1986-88 (3 years) – Marshall (RB)