LOGAN, Utah – LaMarcus Hicks has been named Utah State’s cornerbacks coach, it was announced Wednesday by Aggie head football coach Blake Anderson.
Hicks owns 10 years of coaching experience in the college ranks following a two-year stint as a defensive back for the Detroit Lions, appearing in 12 games from 2007-08.
Hicks comes to Utah State after spending the past two seasons as the cornerbacks coach at Eastern Michigan, including serving as the team’s defensive recruiting coordinator this past year.
During the 2021 season, Hicks helped the Eagles to a 7-6 record and an appearance in the Lending Tree Bowl. EMU 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 the defensive staff that orchestrated one of the best red zone approaches in all of college football. EMU’s opponents left the red zone scoreless eight times in 28 attempts, making EMU the best red zone defense in the MAC and rank seventh nationally.
The EMU defense was successful at forcing turnovers throughout the team’s six games. The Eagles recovered nine fumbles, which ranked first in the MAC and 11th nationally, and had three interceptions, which was good for seventh in the league.
Prior to his arrival at Eastern Michigan, Hicks spent the previous two years as the secondary coach at Bowling Green State University. 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 arriving in the Buckeye State, Hicks spent two years (2016-17) at Jackson State. He 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 coaching at JSU, 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. Five of those seven were cornerbacks coached by Hicks. Two Mean Green cornerbacks 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. 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.
Prior to coaching, Hicks played professionally with the Detroit Lions for two seasons (2007-08). He appeared in 12 career games, registering 12 tackles after originally signing as an undrafted free agent in 2006.
A native of Clarksdale, Mississippi, Hicks spent his collegiate career at Iowa State as a safety. In his senior season, 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 received his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Iowa State in 2006.
He and his wife, Ashley, are the parents of Markia, LaMarcus II, and two sets of twins, Ashton, Auston, Landon and Layton Hicks.
LAMARCUS HICKS FILE
Coaching History
2022- 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
Bowl Games (1)
Eastern Michigan (1): 2021 Lending Tree Bowl
Playing Experience
2006-08 Detroit Lions – Safety
2004-05 Iowa State – Safety
Education
2006 Iowa State – Liberal Arts (B.S.)
Family
Wife – Ashley; Children – Markia, LaMarcus II, Ashton, Auston, Landon and Layton
