He’ll remain as AD, but leaves legacy of historic rebuild at Newcastle
The Newcastle School Board accepted Jeff Brickman’s resignation as Head Football Coach at Newcastle High School at their monthly board meeting on the night of Tuesday, February 10.
His resignation from coaching responsibilities allows him to focus exclusively on his role as Athletic Director for the Newcastle Public School District.
Brickman departs the sidelines having transformed the Racers into one of the premier football programs in Oklahoma.
“I believe I have left the football program in excellent shape as one of the top programs in Oklahoma, and I look forward to finding the right fit to lead the team moving forward,” Brickman said. “I have heard it said, ‘A coach will impact more people in one year than the average person will in an entire lifetime.’ I will be looking for someone who can positively impact the team and lead with success both on and off the field, someone with integrity who models the character of a true leader.”
Hired in January 2017, Brickman inherited a program that had posted a 2–18 record over the previous two seasons and was losing by an average of 25 points per game. Over the next nine years, he engineered one of the most remarkable turnarounds in state history, elevating Newcastle from a preseason No. 31 ranking in Class 4A (when Brickman took over the program) to be the second most winning program in Class 5A over the past two seasons. In so doing, he established the Racers as a consistent championship contender.
Highlights of Brickman’s Tenure Include:
• Two consecutive Class 5A State Semifinal appearances (2024, 2025), 2024 was the first semifinal birth for Newcastle in 20 years
• Six straight playoff appearances (2020–2025)
• 2024 District 5A-1 Coach of the Year after leading Newcastle to an undefeated conference championship despite being picked 5th in the preseason
• Quarterfinal appearance and Top-5 finish in Class 4A in 2023
• Oklahoma Sports Network Coach of the Year Finalist in 2022, 2023, and 2024
• Achieved one of the largest comebacks in Oklahoma history in 2020, rallying from 20 points down with 90 seconds remaining to win 41-40 • Development of 3 All-State players and 60 All-District players Brickman also built a nationally recognized recruiting system that connected Newcastle athletes with college programs across the country.
During his tenure as a high school head coach, 82 players earned football scholarships, including:
• 18 NCAA Division I
• 31 NCAA Division II
• 13 NAIA BRICKMAN on page 2 • 9 JUCO
BRICKMAN: It’s been‘a blessing to serve as head coach’
• 3 NCAA Division III Additionally, Brickman has coached and helped develop five NFL players.
Beyond wins and accolades, Brickman emphasized relationships and community. “I want to thank Dr. Walker, the Board of Education, and the Newcastle community for their unwavering support over the years,” he said. “I also want to publicly thank my wife, Brandi, and my son, Kael, for always standing beside me. What a blessing it has been to serve as your Head Football Coach.”
Superintendent Dr. Cathy Walker praised Brickman’s impact, saying, “Coach Brickman didn’t just rebuild a football program, he strengthened an entire community. His commitment to character, academics, and excellence will be felt for generations of Racers.”
As Brickman transitions fully into his duties as Athletic Director, Newcastle will begin a national search for the next leader of Racer Football. School officials said the next will be tasked with continuing the culture of integrity, discipline, and championship expectations Brickman established.
