Likens was born in Warren, Ohio and attended Mississippi State University.
He left North Alabama in 1998, joining the Temple Owls as a wide receivers coach.
He was there until 2005, leaving to join the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
He was at Kansas for two seasons before accepting a position with Arizona State Sun Devils as wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.
In December 2019, he left Arizona State to join University of Miami as the wide receivers coach.