Eastern Michigan Athletics
Football
vs
Ohio
Oct 25 (Sat)
TBA
LaMarcus Hicks
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Defensive Recruiting Coordinator/Cornerbacks
- Email:
- lhicks20@emich.edu
- Phone:
- 734.487.2160
Entering his second year at EMU is LaMarcus Hicks, who came to Ypsilanti after spending the past two years at Bowling Green State University. Hicks serves as EMU’s cornerbacks coach and Defensive Recruiting Coordinator.
Hicks owns nine 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.
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. Defensively, the Eagles rank seventh nationally in the red zone. EMU’s opponents left the red zone scoreless eight times in 28 attempts last season, making EMU the best red zone defense in the MAC.
The Eastern defense was the fifth-best unit in the Mid-American Conference at preventing third-down conversions (38.2% opponent success rate) in 2020. The “Hard Hat D” finished 2020 with improvements in two categories over 2019’s squad, as opponents fared worse in passing yards per attempt (8.07/8.08) and third-down conversion rate (38.2% 29-of-76/44.8% 82-of-183). Additionally, the EMU defense was able to hold opponents off the scoreboard in 17 percent of its overall frames this year (4-of-24).
The EMU defense was successful at forcing turnovers throughout the team’s six games. Eastern recovered nine fumbles, which ranked first in the MAC and 11th nationally, and had three interceptions, which was good for seventh in the league. EMU’s final outing, against NIU, Dec. 12, saw the team recover one fumble, which included a 61-yard touchdown by freshman Mark Lee Jr, who is tutored by Hicks.
Prior to his arrival in Ypsilanti, Hicks spent the past two years as the secondary coach at Mid-American Conference rival 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 University. 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 the University of 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 in 2014, 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 in Washtenaw County at nearby Concordia University-Ann Arbor. He also worked two seasons (2011-12) at Truman High School in Taylor, Mich., 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 their second playoff game in school history while allowing only 11.27 points per game. He also served as the school’s head track coach.
He began his coaching career in 2010 at Rhodes (Tenn.) College as the wide receivers coach. Three players at the position were selected All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Prior to coaching, he 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, Miss., Hicks spent his collegiate career at Iowa State University playing 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 ll, and two sets of twins, Ashton, Auston, Landon, and Layton Hicks.
Hicks owns nine 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.
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. Defensively, the Eagles rank seventh nationally in the red zone. EMU’s opponents left the red zone scoreless eight times in 28 attempts last season, making EMU the best red zone defense in the MAC.
The Eastern defense was the fifth-best unit in the Mid-American Conference at preventing third-down conversions (38.2% opponent success rate) in 2020. The “Hard Hat D” finished 2020 with improvements in two categories over 2019’s squad, as opponents fared worse in passing yards per attempt (8.07/8.08) and third-down conversion rate (38.2% 29-of-76/44.8% 82-of-183). Additionally, the EMU defense was able to hold opponents off the scoreboard in 17 percent of its overall frames this year (4-of-24).
The EMU defense was successful at forcing turnovers throughout the team’s six games. Eastern recovered nine fumbles, which ranked first in the MAC and 11th nationally, and had three interceptions, which was good for seventh in the league. EMU’s final outing, against NIU, Dec. 12, saw the team recover one fumble, which included a 61-yard touchdown by freshman Mark Lee Jr, who is tutored by Hicks.
Prior to his arrival in Ypsilanti, Hicks spent the past two years as the secondary coach at Mid-American Conference rival 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 University. 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 the University of 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 in 2014, 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 in Washtenaw County at nearby Concordia University-Ann Arbor. He also worked two seasons (2011-12) at Truman High School in Taylor, Mich., 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 their second playoff game in school history while allowing only 11.27 points per game. He also served as the school’s head track coach.
He began his coaching career in 2010 at Rhodes (Tenn.) College as the wide receivers coach. Three players at the position were selected All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Prior to coaching, he 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, Miss., Hicks spent his collegiate career at Iowa State University playing 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 ll, and two sets of twins, Ashton, Auston, Landon, and Layton Hicks.
| The LaMarcus Hicks File | ||
| Name: | LaMarcus Dante Hicks | |
| High School: | Clarksdale H.S. - Clarksdale, Miss. | |
| College: | Iowa State University - Bachelor’s degree in Liberal studies - 2006 | |
| Family: | Wife - Ashley; Children - Markia, LaMarcus ll, Ashton, Auston, Landon, and Layton | |
| Coaching Experience | ||
| Year | School | Position |
| 2021-Present | Eastern Michigan University | Assistant Coach/Cornerbacks/ Defensive Recruiting Coord. |
| 2020 | Eastern Michigan University | Assistant Coach/Cornerbacks |
| 2018-19 | Bowling Green State University | Assistant Coach/Secondary |
| 2016-17 | Jackson State University | Assistant Coach/Safeties |
| 2014-15 | University of North Texas | Assistant Coach/Cornerbacks |
| 2013 | Concordia (Mich.) University | Assistant Coach/Defensive Backs |
| 2011-12 | Truman (Mich.) High School | Assistant Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs |
| 2010 | Rhodes (Tenn.) College | Assistant Coach/Wide Receivers |
| 2006-08 | Detroit Lions | Professional athlete |
| 2004-05 | Iowa State University | Student-athlete |
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