Southeast assistant packs an impressive resume

Southeast Missouri State University gymnastics coach Tom Farden laughed when talking about the kind of excitement his first-year assistant coach has generated among prospective recruits.

"She'll send out a recruiting letter and girls are so excited because they've got her autograph," Farden said, smiling.

That's because Andreé Pickens, who joined Farden's staff last summer, is one of the most prolific gymnasts in NCAA history, having earned 14 All-American honors at the University of Alabama.

Among the top accomplishments for Pickens, who completed her collegiate eligibility in 2002, are winning NCAA championships on the balance beam and uneven bars, leading the Crimson Tide to the 2002 NCAA title, and earning the 2002 Honda-Broderick Award given to the national gymnast of the year.

Pickens, who in 1999 became the first freshman in NCAA history to win five All-American honors, was also a four-year member of the U.S. National Team, and she earned Scholastic All-American honors. She is a member of the University of Alabama athletic Hall of Fame. After the completion of her gymnastics career, she also set the school's pole vaulting record for both indoor and outdoor track.

"It's just unbelievable having somebody with her accomplishments and success as a collegiate athlete on our staff," Farden said. "She is such an asset to our program. With her name credibility, it really helps in recruiting, because they recognize the name.

"From a technical aspect, she's done so much, so she knows all the skills. And she's a great person."

Pickens also laughed when asked about some of the responses she's gotten from sending out recruiting letters.

"I've actually had some of my former teammates who now coach call and tell me their athletes were so excited when they got my letter," she said.

Pickens, who as a student assistant coach at Alabama during the 2003 season helped lead the Crimson Tide to a second-place national finish, said she is elated to be at Southeast.

"It's great to be here. I'm very excited for the opportunity to help a program that's on the rise," she said. "Having been in postseason competition, knowing the mindset and what you have to do to prepare, hopefully I can bring some of that to the athletes here."

The outgoing Pickens, who graduated from Alabama in 2003 with a degree in biology, said she should mesh well with the always energetic and enthusiastic Farden.

"He keeps you going," she said, grinning. "I'm just trying to keep up with him, but I think I can."