The first of two children, I was born in January of 1990 in Norwalk, Ohio to Shelly and Bernie Brickner. Along with little brother Eric, our family moved to Southwest Ohio in 1994. Growing up in Fairfield, I enjoyed playing and watching sports as a little tyke. Whether it was an evening at the ballpark to watch the Reds or a day trip up to Ohio State's campus for a Buckeye game, I was hooked on sports from the get-go. I played in basketball, bowling, baseball, and soccer leagues, but football was my true passion. I played football all the way through from pee-wee to Varsity in high school. One of my proudest accomplishments was winning the Fairfield Football "Indian Pride" Award as a Senior. As voted on by my teammates, this award was given to the athlete that most embodied what it meant to be a team player and who best represented Fairfield Football. From kindergarten through twelfth grade I went through the Fairfield City Schools system, graduating in 2008.
A decision I still ponder today, I decided to go The Ohio State University, my parents' alma mater, instead of pursuing a chance of playing football at the collegiate level. During college I was often homesick and missed being a part of a team. Being in the stands is a whole lot different, as I was used to being on the field as a part of the team each Fall. At the start of my fourth year at OSU I took Coaching Football as an elective class... all of a sudden everything clicked and I realized my life's mission: To become the best football coach and mentor possible, as I share the game that I love with future generations. In 2012, the same year I graduated from OSU, I began my first stint as a football coach. For two seasons I was a volunteer coach, focusing on the offensive and defensive lines, for the 7th grade football team at Dublin Sells Middle School. In 2014, a move to the East side of Columbus spurred my transition to the high school level. I became a volunteer assistant with Reynoldsburg HS, officially the Varsity QB Coach and JV Offensive Coordinator. The last time I had put so much time and effort into one specific focus was when I played high school football myself. Noticing my work ethic and unquestionable passion for the game, the head coach promoted me to a full time, paid member of the coaching staff for the 2015 season. With 2016 now in the books, I have completed my 3rd season at RHS, and 2nd season as Varsity Offensive Line Coach & Team Equipment Manager. I have begun coaching softball for the first time, as I'm now the JV Assistant Coach for the 2017 Lady Raiders. My career goal is to become both the high school's Head Football Coach and Head Athletic Director at the Division I level in Ohio. I am an extremely loyal and driven person, so every decision I make is another step in the path to bettering my team and my athletic department. I hope to spend decades on the sideline, enriching the lives of young people and watching them grow. Once I get a full time salary job in athletics, I hope to stick with that specific school district for as long as possible, instead of hopping to different openings every few years. My ultimate goal, and life's dream, is to build up my resume with years of success so I can end my professional and coaching career at the source of where it all started. I hope to one day have the absolute pleasure of leading my team out of the locker room, with the crowd cheering, the band playing FHS FIGHT, and the sun setting over the grandstands... As the Head Coach of the Fairfield Indians Varsity Football Team. |