Martin, Tenn.–The University of Tennessee at Martin mourns the passing of Fred Pickard, a 2005 inductee into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame following a four-year stint as head football coach. He was 83 years old.
Pickard served as head coach at Terry Parker High School in Jacksonville, Fla. for eight seasons before coming to UT Martin in 1975. He served in a variety of roles as an assistant (offensive line coach, linebackers coach, defensive coordinator, running backs coach, offensive coordinator) under Pacer head coaches George MacIntyre, Vester Newcomb and Lynn Amedee before he was promoted to head coach by athletic director Ray Mears. He was officially named the 10th head coach in school history on Feb. 1, 1982, leading the UT Martin program from 1982 through 1985.
A Columbia, Tenn. native, Pickard began his collegiate head coaching career with a 4-1 record – which was the Pacers’ best start to a season since the 1967 squad that went on to win the Tangerine Bowl. During his tenure, he coached 10 All-Gulf South Conference honorees – including future UT Martin Athletic Hall of Famers Jerry Reese (Class of 1995) and Tony Champion (Class of 2010).
Pickard was a standout collegiate fullback at Florida State, leading the Seminoles in rushing for three consecutive seasons (1957-59). He tallied 339 carries for 1,546 yards – both school records – and scored 14 touchdowns. He was a two-time All-American selection, holding the distinction of scoring the school’s first-ever touchdown in the historic rivalry series against the University of Florida. He was inducted into the Florida State Hall of Fame in 1982, five months before he made his Pacer head coaching debut.