Wisconsin Badgers

Jack Bicknell Jr. joined the Badgers on Jan. 4, 2023 as the offensive line coach. A 35-year veteran with experience at both the NFL and collegiate level, Bicknell came to Madison after spending one season as the offensive line coach at North Carolina. Bickell joins the Badgers’ staff alongside offensive coordinator Phil Longo. The pair coached in the same positions at North Carolina in 2022 and at Ole Miss during the 2017 and 2018 campaigns.

During his one season leading the Tar Heel’s offensive line unit, UNC ranked second in the ACC in total offense with 473.6 yards per game. UNC went 9-4 in the regular season, clinching a spot in the ACC Championship Game and a berth in the Holiday Bowl. Under Bicknell’s guidance, center Corey Graynor earned All-ACC honorable mention recognition.
 
Bicknell spent the 2021 season at Louisville, leading an offensive line that helped the Cardinals rank 22nd nationally and third in the ACC in rushing at 209.8 yards per game and 21st nationally in total offense at 446.2 yards per game. Louisville ranked first in the ACC in both sacks allowed (1.54 per game) and tackles for loss allowed (4.77 per game). Under Bicknell’s tutelage, guard Caleb Chandler earned first-team All-ACC honors, while center Cole Bentley was recognized as an honorable-mention honoree.
 
Before joining the Louisville staff, Bicknell spent the 2020 campaign in the Southeastern Conference tutoring the offensive line at Auburn, guiding the Tigers to the Citrus Bowl.
Prior to his stop at Auburn, Bicknell spent three seasons rebuilding the offense at Mississippi. In 2019, the Rebels were one of the top rushing teams in the nation, finishing second in the SEC and ninth in the country in rushing, averaging 251.2 yards per game. The Rebels ranked 11th nationally at 5.39 yards per carry and scored 29 touchdowns on the ground. That season, quarterback John Rhys Plumlee averaged 113.7 yards rushing per game, good for first in the SEC and eighth nationally.

In both 2017 and ’18, Bicknell’s offensive line helped Ole Miss quarterbacks lead the SEC in passing yards per game . In 2018 left tackle Greg Little earned first team All-SEC accolades before becoming the highest Rebel drafted in the 2019 NFL Draft. The second team All-American was taken in the second round (37th overall) by the Carolina Panthers.

Prior to joining Ole Miss, Bicknell spent two seasons as assistant offensive line coach with the NFL's Miami Dolphins. In 2014, the Dolphins produced 361 first downs, tied for the second-most in franchise history and the most since 1985 when the team had the same amount. Despite missing the first four games of the season due to injury and making the switch to guard, Mike Pouncey was named to his second-straight Pro Bowl in 2014. Tackle Ja'Wuan James became the eighth offensive lineman in Dolphins history to start all 16 games as a rookie, showing his versatility by starting nine games at right tackle and seven at left tackle en route to earning PFWA All-Rookie Team honors.

Bicknell came to Miami after spending the 2013 season as the offensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. While in Pittsburgh, Bicknell's unit helped running back Le'Veon Bell amass 1,259 yards from scrimmage, the most by a Steelers rookie.

Before joining the Steelers, Bicknell served as the offensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012, when he directed a unit that was instrumental in helping running back Jamaal Charles return to All-Pro form after an ACL injury cut short his 2011 season.

Bicknell began his NFL coaching career with the New York Giants in 2009 and was a member of a coaching staff that helped lead the franchise to its fourth Super Bowl title with a 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots on Feb. 5, 2012. During the 2011 season, the Giants' line anchored an offense that finished fifth in the NFL in passing while only allowing 28 sacks.

Before his time in the NFL, Bicknell spent eight seasons as the head coach at Louisiana Tech (1999-2006), where his 43 victories ranked as the fourth-most in school history. Following the 2001 season, he was named WAC Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to a conference championship in its first year of membership. Bicknell also served as the Bulldogs' offensive line coach from 1997-98.

Bicknell began his coaching career at his alma mater, Boston College, as a graduate assistant from 1985-86. Following his two seasons with the Eagles, Bicknell joined the staff at New Hampshire in 1987 and spent 10 seasons with the Wildcats coaching the defensive line (1987-92) before moving to the offensive line (1993-96). Bicknell returned to Boston College in 2007 as the Eagles' assistant head coach/offensive line coach for two seasons (2007-08) before joining the Giants in the NFL.

A three-year letterwinner as an offensive lineman, Bicknell played collegiately for his father at Boston College from 1981-85 where he was the center for 1984 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Doug Flutie. It was Bicknell who snapped the ball to Flutie on the final play of the Boston College/Miami game, which led to one of the most memorable conclusions to a game in college football history. The Flutie "Hail Mary" game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Gerald Phelan propelled the Eagles over the Miami Hurricanes on Nov 23, 1984.

Bicknell comes from a family of coaches. His father, Jack, was the head coach at Boston College (1981-90) prior to becoming the head coach of the Barcelona Dragons (1991-03) of NFL Europe. His brother, Bob, has coached in NFL Europe, at the collegiate level, and in the NFL.

Born in North Plainfield, N.J., Bicknell attended Orono (Maine) High School. He and his wife, Helen, have three children; John, Katelyn and Alyse.

Personal
Hometown: North Plainfield, N.J.
Wife: Helen
Children: John, Katelyn and Alyse
Education: Boston College, '85
 
Playing Career
1981-85: Boston College (Offensive Line)
 

Bicknell's Coaching Career
Year	School/Team	Position
1986	Boston College	Graduate Assistant
1987-92	New Hampshire	Defensive Line
1993-96	New Hampshire	Offensive Line
1997-98	Louisiana Tech	Offensive Line
1999-2006	Louisiana Tech	Head Coach
2007-08	Boston College	Offensive Line
2009-11	New York Giants (NFL)	Assistant Offensive Line
2012	Kansas City Chiefs (NFL)	Offensive Line
2013	Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)	Offensive Line
2014-15	Miami Dolphins (NFL)	Assistant Offensive Line
2017-19	Ole Miss	Offensive Line
2020	Auburn	Offensive Line
2021	Louisville	Offensive Line
2022	North Carolina	Offensive Line
2023-present	Wisconsin	Offensive Line