After spending a few years working with the offensive line at UCLA as a graduate assistant. In 2007 Ficken made the leap to the NFL becoming the assistant running backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings. In 2009 he would switch positions and become the assistant wide receivers coach. After the 2012 season Ficken again switched positions becoming the teams assistant special teams coach. For the 2021 season Ficken was named the Vikings special teams coordinator replacing Marwan Maalouf.
