Richard Pickell, who guided Harriman to state basketball title in 1995, dies at 77
When he stepped away from basketball, Richard Pickell was on top of the world. At least the world he built at Harriman High School.
A boys basketball coach for 31 consecutive seasons at Oliver Springs (1964-71) and Harriman (1971-95), Pickell ended his career the best way a high school coach could imagine – as a state champion.
“We had lost to Sweetwater in the sub-state each of the two years before,” said Richard Travis Pickell, the coach’s son, who was a junior on the championship team. “Then, we were able to beat Sweetwater (65-59) to win the (Class AA) title. That just made it even better.”
Pickell, who also won a state title as a player in 1958 at Lenoir City and compiled 561 career victories, died Tuesday. He was 77.
"I was lucky enough in 1958 to play on a team at Lenoir City that won the state," Pickell told the News Sentinel after Harriman won the state championship in 1995. "It's a great feeling. It's something these guys will remember for the rest of their lives.
"And this was a great game for me to end it on."
Never a foul word
“My dad never, ever used a foul word toward a player or anyone,” his son said. “He grew up in the church. He was always upbeat. You could see that he meant so much to so many people.”
He said there was a clear distinction between Coach Pickell and his dad. At practice or a game, he was “coach.” At home, he was “dad.”
“It was never a difficult thing to play for him,” said his son, who came off the bench during that championship season. “He was a family man, more than anything. That was what was important for him.”
The star of that Harriman team was Jeremaine Copeland, who went on to play football at Tennessee and then made a name for himself in the Canadian Football League. Copeland is now a receivers coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
"Basketball has been my life since the seventh grade and this is a fairy-tale ending," Pickell told the News Sentinel after the victory. "I couldn't have written it any better.
More:Harriman’s victory over rival Kingston ‘something special’
Seeing the world
Pickell remained at Harriman as a teacher and administrator for four years before finally retiring. Afterward, he and Jean, who would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Friday, saw the world.
“He and mom would travel all over,” Richard Travis said. “They’d go all over. Whenever they felt the notion, they’d up and travel. They’ve been to Alaska twice.”
One of their favorite destinations has been Durham, N.C. Their 36-year-old son Wesley is the director of athletic equipment for all sports at Duke. After a stint with the Tennessee football team, he followed coach David Cutcliffe to Duke.
The family will receive friends at the Harriman High gym that bears his name on Friday between 5-8 p.m. A celebration of his life will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at New Midway Baptist Church in Kingston.
Al Lesar is a freelance contributor.