Otahks' assistant has quite a resume

Southeast Missouri State University on Thursday announced the hiring of an assistant coach for the women's gymnastics program, tabbing 14-time All-American Andree Pickens.

Pickens, a native of Houston, won NCAA national championships on the balance beam in 1999 and the uneven bars in 2002 while attending the University of Alabama. She won Southeastern Conference freshman of the year in honors in 1999 while becoming the first freshman in NCAA history to win five All-American honors. She was SEC gymnast of the year in 2000, 2001 and 2002, leading Alabama to an NCAA championship in her senior season. She also won the NCAA Top VII Award and was a Scholastic All-American.

"Her accomplishments and success as a collegiate athlete speak for themselves," Southeast gymnastics coach Tom Farden said in a statement. "She's had an amazing career and we hope her experience in championship athletics can help our program move forward to a championship level."

Southeast last year had its best season since 1998 by posting a 15-7 record with Farden as interim head coach. The interim tag was removed from his title this spring.

Pickens, who was a student-coach at Alabama in 2003 during the school's run to an NCAA runner-up showing, will assist the team on the balance beam and floor routines and also assist with recruiting.

"I hope to bring my experience with me to Southeast in hopes of helping the program grow and broaden the horizons of the team," Pickens said in a statement. "I'm very excited for the opportunity to help a program that's on the rise."