Born in Bremen, Germany, Ficken grew up in Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.
His family had traveled to the U.S. when he was nine for a visit, but ended up staying in the U.S. where he lived with an aunt[1] Ficken graduated from John Jay High School then attended Long Island University where he played on the men's soccer team from 1962 to 1965.
Following graduation, Ficken worked as an investment banker and in real estate before turning to coaching 1974.
Ficken earned one cap with the U.S. national team in a 2–1 World Cup qualification loss to Mexico on September 10, 1972, in Los Angeles.
During his twenty-seven seasons, he led the team to a 252–139–53 record and the 1983 NCAA championship game where it lost to the University of Indiana.