Hall of Fame
John Brickels joined the Miami staff in 1949 as an assistant football coach and head basketball coach for two seasons (1949-50) and 1950-51). From 1950 until his death in 1964, Brickels also served as Athletic Director. He helped the Mid-American Conference gain "major" recognition in football by scheduling Big 10 teams for Miami to play. As athletic Director he was responsible for hiring Ara Parseghian, John Pont and Bo Schembechler in football and Bill Rohr and Dick Shrider in basketball.
A 1930 graduate of Wittenberg, where he gained all-Ohio recognition in football, Brickels began his coaching career at New Philadelphia High School (1930-38). He was assistant football coach and basketball coach for two years and head football coach for six years. During one stretch, his football teams won 36 of 40 games.
Leaving the state of Ohio for West Virginia, he coached Huntington High School's basketball teams from 1938-44. His teams reached the state tournament four times, played in the finals twice and won the title in 1944. He also had state champions in football and track. Brickels was head basketball coach at West Virginia University during the 1944-45 season and guided the Mountaineers to an appearance in the NIT.
Prior to coming to Miami, Brickels helped Paul Brown organize the Cleveland Browns. From 1945 until 1949 he served as backfield coach and chief scout.
