Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Todd Lickliter to return to the bench in the NAIA ranks

Todd Lickliter

Iowa coach Todd Lickliter directs his players during the first overtime of an NCAA college men’s basketball game Saturday, March 7, 2009, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 75-67, in double overtime. (AP Photo /Matthew Putney)

AP

And you thought the coaching carousel was over.

Todd Lickliter has reportedly accepted the head coaching position at Marian University in Indianapolis, an NAIA school. The Knights had to replace John Grimes, who had been at the school for 36 years, when he retired back in March.

Lickliter’s name should be familiar to you. He led Butler to two Sweet 16’s during the 2000’s before taking over the Iowa program in 2007. But in three years as the head man of the Hawkeyes, Lickliter never was able to put together a winning record. In fact, he finished just 38-57 in his time in Iowa City while going just 15-39 in Big Ten games.

Lickliter was fired after the 2010 season, and only returned to coaching this past season as he took a job on Miami-Ohio’s bench. He’ll have his work cut out for him at Marian, as he will be taking over for a living legend. Grimes won more than 500 games at the school, including three conference regular season titles, two tournament titles, three trips to the NAIA National Tournament and an appearance in the 2001 Sweet 16. Grimes also led Marian to an upset win over Butler in 1980, one season after Lickliter graduated from the school.

He should have success. Lickliter is a Butler alum and an Indianapolis native that got his coaching start at Indiana high schools.

(Image via)

Rob Dauster is the editor of the college basketball website Ballin’ is a Habit. You can find him on twitter @robdauster.