Luke Fickell’s expected five-game coaching stint has become a full-season audition.

After NCAA violations and investigations prompted the resignation of 10-year Ohio State head football coach Jim Tressel on Monday, Fickell has been named the interim head coach for the 2011–12 season.

Fickell, who played nose guard for OSU from 1992–96, was selected to coach for the first five games next season following Tressel’s suspension. He now will coach for the entire 12-game season.

“It will be difficult,” Fickell said in March, referring to coaching the first five games of the season. “We have to know whose team it is. It’s our team. It’s the seniors’ team.”

Despite the mixed emotions surrounding Tressel’s departure, OSU football historian Jack Park thinks fans will rally behind the new leader.

“I think everybody will get behind Luke Fickell,” Park said. “I’m sure this is not the way he wanted this at all.”

Whether or not he wanted them, Fickell has the coaching reins next season. The coach for the 2012 campaign is still uncertain, but the Columbus native has 2011 to prove he is the man for the job.

“It is an opportunity for him to earn the head-coaching job at Ohio State,” Park said. “He’s got a year. He doesn’t have to build a staff. … The staff is in place. They have been working together pretty well.”

Fickell likely will lean on his experienced assistants.

“We coach by committee,” Fickell said. “It never has been, never will be, about one person in particular.”