Jack Bicknell

Not to be confused with Jack Bicknell, Jr..
Jack Bicknell
Sport(s) Football
Biographical details
Born February 20, 1938
Playing career
1959 Montclair State
Position(s) Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
196?1967
19681975
19761980
19811990
19912003
2004
20052007
Governor Livingston HS (NJ)
Boston College (backfield)
Maine
Boston College
Barcelona Dragons
Scottish Claymores
Hamburg Sea Devils
Head coaching record
Overall 77902 (college)
71741 (WLAF/NFL Europe)
2862 (high school)

Statistics

Jack Bicknell (born February 20, 1938) is a retired American football coach, most recently known for his long involvement in NFL Europa and its predecessor, the World League of American Football (WLAF). He served as the head football coach at the University of Maine from 1976 to 1980 and at Boston College from 1981 to 1988, compiling a career college football record of 77902. In 1984, Bicknell coached his Boston College Eagles team to a 10–2 mark including a victory in the Cotton Bowl Classic. His quarterback that season, Doug Flutie, was awarded the Heisman Trophy.

Coaching career

College

Bicknell was the head football coach at the University of Maine from 1976 to 1980, earning an 18–35–1 win-loss record. After that, he went to coach at Boston College, where he stayed for ten years. At Boston College, he was 59–55–1, and was head coach in 1984 when Heisman Trophy-winner Doug Flutie completed his famous Hail Mary pass to Gerard Phelan to beat the Miami Hurricanes as time expired. Bicknell son, Jack Jr., was the center for BC at the time of Flutie's miracle pass.

NFL Europe

Bicknell was named the head coach of the Barcelona Dragons at their inception in 1991, and served there until October 2003, when he was named head coach of the Scottish Claymores. He has an overall record of 59–55 in his NFL Europe career. Bicknell has made four World Bowl appearances, and has been to three title games in the past six years. In 1991, he led the Barcelona Dragons to an 8–2 mark and a berth in the first World Bowl. In 1997, his Dragons won the first half of the season and went on to win World Bowl '97 in Barcelona. In 1999, the Dragons posted a league-best 7–3 mark before losing to Frankfurt in the World Bowl. Also posted a league-best 8–2 record in 2001 before losing World Bowl IX to the Berlin Thunder in Amsterdam. On March 28, 2007, Bicknell stepped down as head coach of the Hamburg Sea Devils, citing health issues as the reason for his resignation.

Personal life

Bicknell is nicknamed "Cowboy Jack" because of his love for country music and horse riding. He and his wife, Lois, have three children, Jack, Jr., Wendy and Bob and five grandchildren. Both of his sons played for him at Boston College and are currently coaches in the National Football League.

Head coaching record

College

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Maine Black Bears (Yankee Conference) (1976–1980)
1976 Maine 65 23 T3rd
1977 Maine 37 14 T3rd
1978 Maine 371 041 6th
1979 Maine 29 05 6th
1980 Maine 47 14 5th
Maine: 18351 4201
Boston College Eagles (NCAA Division I-A Independent) (1981–1990)
1981 Boston College 56
1982 Boston College 831 L Tangerine
1983 Boston College 93 L Liberty 20 19
1984 Boston College 102 W Cotton 4 5
1985 Boston College 48
1986 Boston College 93 W Hall of Fame 18 19
1987 Boston College 56
1988 Boston College 38
1989 Boston College 29
1990 Boston College 47
Boston College: 59551
Total: 77902

Professional

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Barcelona Dragons (WLAF) (1991–1992)
1991 Barcelona Dragons 82 2nd European L 021 World Bowl I
1992 Barcelona Dragons 55 1st European L 1517 WLAF Playoffs
Barcelona Dragons (NFL Europe) (1995–2003)
1995 Barcelona Dragons 55 3rd
1996 Barcelona Dragons 55 4th
1997 Barcelona Dragons 55 4th W 3824 World Bowl V
1998 Barcelona Dragons 46 4th
1999 Barcelona Dragons 73 1st L 2438 World Bowl VII
2000 Barcelona Dragons 55 3rd
2001 Barcelona Dragons 82 1st L 2417 World Bowl IX
2002 FC Barcelona Dragons 28 6th
2003 FC Barcelona Dragons 55 4th
Barcelona Dragons: 6155
Scottish Claymores (NFL Europe) (2004)
2004 Scottish Claymores 28 6th
Scottish Claymores: 28
Hamburg Sea Devils (NFL Europe) (2005–2006)
2005 Hamburg Sea Devils 55 4th
2006 Hamburg Sea Devils 361 5th
Hamburg Sea Devils: 8111
Total: 71741

References

    External links