Brickels began his coaching career in 1930, after graduating from Wittenberg University in Ohio, where he was a standout as a halfback on the school's football team.

Brickels attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, where he played four sports and was a star halfback on the school's football team.

[1] The team played numerous times against dominant Massillon Washington High School squads coached by Paul Brown in the 1930s, although New Philadelphia lost all of the matchups.

[3][5] In 1944, he was named the head basketball coach at the West Virginia University, and led the team to the National Invitation Tournament in 1945.

[8] Center Frank Gatski and guard Ed Ulinski both played at Marshall University in Huntington when Brickels was coaching high school there.