Jack Bicknell
{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1938)}}
{{distinguish|Jack Bicknell, Jr.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Jack Bicknell
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1938|2|20}}
| birth_place = North Plainfield, New Jersey, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1959
| player_team1 = Montclair State
| player_positions = Quarterback
| coach_years1 = 196?–1967
| coach_team1 = Governor Livingston HS (NJ)
| coach_years2 = 1968–1975
| coach_team2 = Boston College (backfield)
| coach_years3 = 1976–1980
| coach_team3 = Maine
| coach_years4 = 1981–1990
| coach_team4 = Boston College
| coach_years5 = 1991–2003
| coach_team5 = Barcelona Dragons
| coach_years6 = 2004
| coach_team6 = Scottish Claymores
| coach_years7 = 2005–2007
| coach_team7 = Hamburg Sea Devils
| overall_record = 77–90–2 (college)
71–74–1 (WLAF/NFL Europe)
28–6–2 (high school)
| bowl_record =
| tournament_record =
| championships =
| awards =
| coaching_records =
}}
Jack Bicknell (born February 20, 1938) is a retired American football coach, most recently known for his long involvement in NFL Europa and its predecessor, the World League of American Football (WLAF). He served as the head football coach at the University of Maine from 1976 to 1980 and at Boston College from 1981 to 1988, compiling a career college football record of 77–90–2. In 1984, Bicknell coached his Boston College Eagles team to a 10–2 mark including a victory in the Cotton Bowl Classic. His quarterback that season, Doug Flutie, was awarded the Heisman Trophy.
A native of North Plainfield, New Jersey, Bicknell played quarterback at North Plainfield High School, graduating in 1955 and earning a scholarship to attend Rutgers University.Gildea, William via The Washington Post. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-09-15-sp-23297-story.html "Bicknell Found His Place--Boston College"], Los Angeles Times, September 15, 1985. Accessed July 5, 2018. "Having played quarterback for North Plainfield High School in New Jersey, Bicknell received a scholarship to Rutgers."Lewis, Brian. [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/222540376/ "Bicknell interested in Rutgers coaching job"], Courier-News, December 7, 1995. Accessed July 5, 2018. "Now, North Plainfield native Jack Bicknell would love nothing more than to come home as the next Rutgers football coach.... A 1955 North Plainfield grad, and a former Watchung Hills assistant, Bicknell's roots are strictly Central Jersey."
Coaching career
=College=
Bicknell was the head football coach at the University of Maine from 1976 to 1980, earning an 18–35–1 record. After that, he went to coach at Boston College, where he stayed for ten years. At Boston College, he was 59–55–1, and was head coach in 1984 when Heisman Trophy-winner Doug Flutie completed his famous Hail Flutie pass to Gerard Phelan to beat the Miami Hurricanes as time expired. Bicknell's son, Jack Jr., was the center for BC at the time of Flutie's miracle pass.
=NFL Europe=
Bicknell was named the head coach of the Barcelona Dragons from their inception in 1991 to their demise after the 2003 season. In October 2003 he was named head coach of the Scottish Claymores, a franchise which in 2005 was relocated to Germany as Hamburg Sea Devils, as rival to the local semi-pro Hamburg Blue Devils which had won several German and European titles.
"Cowboy Jack" Bicknell has an overall record of 59–55 in his NFL Europe career. He made four World Bowl appearances, and had been to three title games in six years. In 1991, El Caballero led the Barcelona Dragons to an 8–2 mark and a berth in the playoffs for the first World Bowl after surprisingly defeating the unbeaten London Monarchs in Wembley, but got shut out by them two weeks later in World Bowl '91 itself. In 1997, his Dragons won the first half of the season and went on to win World Bowl '97 in Barcelona. In 1999, the Dragons posted a league-best 7–3 mark before losing to Frankfurt in the World Bowl. His team posted a league-best 8–2 record in 2001 before losing World Bowl IX to the Berlin Thunder in Amsterdam. On 28 March 2007, at age 69, Bicknell stepped down as head coach of the Hamburg Sea Devils, citing health issues as the reason for his resignation.
Personal life
Bicknell is nicknamed "Cowboy Jack" because of his love for country music and horse riding. He and his wife, Lois, have three children, Jack, Jr., Wendy and Bob and five grandchildren. Both of his sons played for him at Boston College and are currently football coaches, Bob with the New England Patriots and Jack, Jr. with the Wisconsin Badgers.
Head coaching record
=College=
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = both }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Maine Black Bears
| conf = Yankee Conference
| startyear = 1976
| endyear = 1980
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1976
| name = Maine
| overall = 6–5
| conference = 2–3
| confstanding = T–3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1977
| name = Maine
| overall = 3–7
| conference = 1–4
| confstanding = T–3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1978
| name = Maine
| overall = 3–7–1
| conference = 0–4–1
| confstanding = 6th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1979
| name = Maine
| overall = 2–9
| conference = 0–5
| confstanding = 6th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1980
| name = Maine
| overall = 4–7
| conference = 1–4
| confstanding = 5th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Maine
| overall = 18–35–1
| confrecord = 4–20–1
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Boston College Eagles
| conf = NCAA Division I-A independent
| startyear = 1981
| endyear = 1990
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1981
| name = Boston College
| overall = 5–6
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
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| ranking =
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}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1982
| name = Boston College
| overall = 8–3–1
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname = Tangerine
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1983
| name = Boston College
| overall = 9–3
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname = Liberty
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 20
| ranking2 = 19
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1984
| name = Boston College
| overall = 10–2
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname = Cotton
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 4
| ranking2 = 5
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1985
| name = Boston College
| overall = 4–8
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1986
| name = Boston College
| overall = 9–3
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname = Hall of Fame
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 18
| ranking2 = 19
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1987
| name = Boston College
| overall = 5–6
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
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| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1988
| name = Boston College
| overall = 3–8
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
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| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1989
| name = Boston College
| overall = 2–9
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1990
| name = Boston College
| overall = 4–7
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Boston College
| overall = 59–55–1
| confrecord =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 77–90–2
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
| legend = no
}}
=Professional=
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = both}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Barcelona Dragons
| conf = WLAF
| startyear = 1991
| endyear = 1992
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1991
| name = Barcelona Dragons
| overall = 8–2
| conference =
| confstanding = 2nd European
| bowlname = World Bowl I
| bowloutcome = L 0–21
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1992
| name = Barcelona Dragons
| overall = 5–5
| conference =
| confstanding = 1st European
| bowlname = WLAF Playoffs
| bowloutcome = L 15–17
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Barcelona Dragons
| startyear = 1995
| conf = NFL Europe
| endyear = 2003
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1995
| name = Barcelona Dragons
| overall = 5–5
| conference =
| confstanding = 3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1996
| name = Barcelona Dragons
| overall = 5–5
| conference =
| confstanding = 4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1997
| name = Barcelona Dragons
| overall = 5–5
| conference =
| confstanding = 4th
| bowlname = World Bowl V
| bowloutcome = W 38–24
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1998
| name = Barcelona Dragons
| overall = 4–6
| conference =
| confstanding = 4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1999
| name = Barcelona Dragons
| overall = 7–3
| conference =
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = World Bowl VII
| bowloutcome = L 24–38
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2000
| name = Barcelona Dragons
| overall = 5–5
| conference =
| confstanding = 3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2001
| name = Barcelona Dragons
| overall = 8–2
| conference =
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = World Bowl IX
| bowloutcome = L 24–17
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2002
| name = FC Barcelona Dragons
| overall = 2–8
| conference =
| confstanding = 6th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2003
| name = FC Barcelona Dragons
| overall = 5–5
| conference =
| confstanding = 4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal|name=Barcelona Dragons|overall=61–55}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Scottish Claymores
| conf = NFL Europe
| startyear = 2004
| endyear = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2004
| name = Scottish Claymores
| overall = 2–8
| conference =
| confstanding = 6th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal|name=Scottish Claymores|overall=2–8}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Hamburg Sea Devils
| conf = NFL Europe
| startyear = 2005
| endyear = 2006
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2005
| name = Hamburg Sea Devils
| overall = 5–5
| conference =
| confstanding = 4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2006
| name = Hamburg Sea Devils
| overall = 3–6–1
| conference =
| confstanding = 5th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal|name=Hamburg Sea Devils|overall=8–11–1}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 71–74–1
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
| legend = no
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Maine Black Bears football coach navbox}}
{{Boston College Eagles football coach navbox}}
{{Barcelona Dragons}}
{{Scottish Claymores}}
{{Hamburg Sea Devils}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bicknell, Jack}}
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Barcelona Dragons (NFL Europe) coaches
Category:Boston College Eagles football coaches
Category:Hamburg Sea Devils coaches
Category:Maine Black Bears football coaches
Category:Montclair State Red Hawks football players
Category:Scottish Claymores coaches
Category:High school football coaches in New Jersey
Category:North Plainfield High School alumni
Category:Sportspeople from North Plainfield, New Jersey
Category:Players of American football from Somerset County, New Jersey
Category:Coaches of American football from New Jersey
Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Spain