He helped the Lupi gain the last spot in the new expanded playoff system that determines the third team promoted to Serie A. The team scored a big upset of fifth-placed Spezia in the first round before being edged out by Bologna over two legs by
His death from a blood clot that traveled to his heart was linked to complications from being kicked repeatedly in the lower legs, by a student whom he was trying to calm down eight days earlier. Sticklen was 58. It