Report: Luke Fickell interviews with Michigan State, should have answer within two days

Michigan State shouldn’t have to wait too long to find out if Luke Fickell is its guy.

On Saturday, Michigan State athletic director Bill Beekman flew to Cincinnati to interview Fickell for its vacant head coaching position. The interview reportedly took place on Sunday morning. According to Brandon Saho of WLWT, a decision is expected to come from Fickell within the next “24 to 48 hours.”

Fickell has been considered Michigan State’s top candidate since Mark Dantonio stepped down last Tuesday. Colorado head coach Mel Tucker was also reportedly expected to interview for the job, but tweeted out Saturday that he was withdrawing his name from consideration.

Luke Fickell is interviewing for the Michigan State job this morning. Source says we should know a decision from Fickell within 24-48 hours. He is still believed to be the Spartans’ top candidate. #Bearcats

— Brandon Saho (@BrandonSaho) February 9, 2020

After Beekman leaves Cincinnati, he’s reportedly headed straight to State College, Penn., according to David Jesse of the Detroit Free Press. It was not clear whether another interview was scheduled with a member of Penn State’s staff, or who would be a potential candidate for the job.

FWIW: The plane MSU athletic director Bill Beekman flew into Cincy last night on is scheduled to leave there at 2:32 p.m. this afternoon and fly straight to State College, PA. @chrissolari @freepsports @RainerSabin @ByChrisThomas

— David Jesse (@reporterdavidj) February 9, 2020

Fickell has been the head coach at Cincinnati for three seasons, leading the Bearcats to a 26- 13 record during his time. Cincinnati has posted 11-win seasons each of the last two years.

Before taking the head coaching job at Cincinnati, Fickell was a longtime assistant coach at Ohio State from 2002-16. He served as the team’s interim head coach in 2011, after the university parted ways with Jim Tressel and prior to Urban Meyer’s hiring.