Sounds like he will be the Director of Defense Recruiting there:
Less than two weeks after losing his defensive coordinator and key recruiter to Notre Dame, University of Cincinnati football coach Luke Fickell has now lost his director of recruiting to the Fighting Irish.
Chad Bowden, who oversees the recruiting for the Bearcats football program, confirmed to The Enquirer on Tuesday that he is joining Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame.
The 26-year-old Bowden said he will be the director of recruiting for Freeman and the Irish defense.
Freeman, who spent the last four seasons as Cincinnati's defensive coordinator, took the same position with the Irish on Jan. 8.
Freeman, who has helped UC compile the highest-rated recruiting class each of the past two years, praised Bowden for his efforts in September.
"He's a crazy man, but that's what makes him special," Freeman told The Enquirer. "Chad's been really good at throwing out ideas. He pushes people outside their comfort zone."
Bowden's decision to join Freeman comes less than a week after Bowden told The Enquirer Fickell was happy at Cincinnati, and that Bowden was happy at UC under Fickell.
"He's extremely happy," Bowden said. "I think we're all very happy to be here at Cincinnati. This city deserves so much. It deserves a winner. It hasn't gotten it (lately) with the Reds. It hasn't gotten it with the Bengals. It's going to get it with the Bearcats. We're going to win national championships."
A source close to the contract negotiations told The Enquirer on Monday night that the deal to bring in longtime Michigan State assistant coach and former Cincinnati assistant Mike Tressel to replace Freeman should be done as early as Tuesday.
Four-star linebacker Melvin Jordan, from the 2022 class, announced via Twitter on Monday night that he was decommitting from Fickell and the Bearcats.
"Due to the coaching staff change at the University Of Cincinnati I will be decommitting and fully re-opening my recruitment," Jordan said. "No love lost, but thank you for recruiting me coach Fickell!"
Jordan is the second decommitment for Fickell in a week.
Jordan joined fellow 2022 recruit Mumu Bin-Wahad, a three-star defensive back from Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia, to turn away from Cincinnati. Bin-Wahad announced his decommitment from UC on Jan. 12, citing UC's recent "coaching changes."
Cincinnati associate head coach and running backs coach Dan Enos accepted the offensive coordinator position at Maryland on Jan. 11.
Fickell, Freeman, Bowden and the rest of the UC coaching staff and recruiting department got a jump on the 2021 recruiting class last month during the early signing period. The class, which includes Fickell's oldest son, three-star Moeller offensive lineman Landon Fickell, is the highest rated among the American Athletic Conference, according to 247Sports.com, and is No. 35 in the Rivals.com listing, besting the No. 39 ranking of UC's 2020 class.
Fickell is 35-14 in four seasons at Cincinnati. The Bearcats, who were eighth in the final College Football Playoff rankings last season, went 9-0, including a win against Tulsa in the American Athletic Conference championship game, before losing to Georgia in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1. It was the program's first appearance in a New Year's Six Bowl since making back-to-back appearances following the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
Cincinnati is scheduled to play at Notre Dame on Oct. 2.
Less than two weeks after losing his defensive coordinator and key recruiter to Notre Dame, University of Cincinnati football coach Luke Fickell has now lost his director of recruiting to the Fighting Irish.
Chad Bowden, who oversees the recruiting for the Bearcats football program, confirmed to The Enquirer on Tuesday that he is joining Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame.
The 26-year-old Bowden said he will be the director of recruiting for Freeman and the Irish defense.
Freeman, who spent the last four seasons as Cincinnati's defensive coordinator, took the same position with the Irish on Jan. 8.
Freeman, who has helped UC compile the highest-rated recruiting class each of the past two years, praised Bowden for his efforts in September.
"He's a crazy man, but that's what makes him special," Freeman told The Enquirer. "Chad's been really good at throwing out ideas. He pushes people outside their comfort zone."
Bowden's decision to join Freeman comes less than a week after Bowden told The Enquirer Fickell was happy at Cincinnati, and that Bowden was happy at UC under Fickell.
"He's extremely happy," Bowden said. "I think we're all very happy to be here at Cincinnati. This city deserves so much. It deserves a winner. It hasn't gotten it (lately) with the Reds. It hasn't gotten it with the Bengals. It's going to get it with the Bearcats. We're going to win national championships."
A source close to the contract negotiations told The Enquirer on Monday night that the deal to bring in longtime Michigan State assistant coach and former Cincinnati assistant Mike Tressel to replace Freeman should be done as early as Tuesday.
Four-star linebacker Melvin Jordan, from the 2022 class, announced via Twitter on Monday night that he was decommitting from Fickell and the Bearcats.
"Due to the coaching staff change at the University Of Cincinnati I will be decommitting and fully re-opening my recruitment," Jordan said. "No love lost, but thank you for recruiting me coach Fickell!"
Jordan is the second decommitment for Fickell in a week.
Jordan joined fellow 2022 recruit Mumu Bin-Wahad, a three-star defensive back from Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia, to turn away from Cincinnati. Bin-Wahad announced his decommitment from UC on Jan. 12, citing UC's recent "coaching changes."
Cincinnati associate head coach and running backs coach Dan Enos accepted the offensive coordinator position at Maryland on Jan. 11.
Fickell, Freeman, Bowden and the rest of the UC coaching staff and recruiting department got a jump on the 2021 recruiting class last month during the early signing period. The class, which includes Fickell's oldest son, three-star Moeller offensive lineman Landon Fickell, is the highest rated among the American Athletic Conference, according to 247Sports.com, and is No. 35 in the Rivals.com listing, besting the No. 39 ranking of UC's 2020 class.
Fickell is 35-14 in four seasons at Cincinnati. The Bearcats, who were eighth in the final College Football Playoff rankings last season, went 9-0, including a win against Tulsa in the American Athletic Conference championship game, before losing to Georgia in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1. It was the program's first appearance in a New Year's Six Bowl since making back-to-back appearances following the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
Cincinnati is scheduled to play at Notre Dame on Oct. 2.
