Leake Academy football coach to be inducted into HOF

Leake Academy headmaster and football coach Brian Pickens will soon join an elite group of coaches.

Pickens was recently told that he had been selected to the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Pickens, along with six other inductees, will be honored at an induction ceremony on Aug. 10 at 3 p.m. at the Mississippi Sports Half of Fame in Jackson. Also being inducted is Bill Ball, Gerald Britt, David King, Mack Norwood, Russ Shows and former Leake Academy headmaster and football coach Pete Lewis.

Pickens has coached at Leake Academy since 2002 after stops at Central Academy, Heritage Academy, Starkville Academy, Grenada High School and Oak Hill Academy.

Pickens has led the Rebels to 18 straight playoff appearances, including the 2020 Class 5A state championship and a perfect 13-0 season. 

Pickens said he was humbled when he first heard the news.

“The first thoughts are you are humbled,” Pickens said. “You know there are a lot of great guys and coaches that you think of that should be in it. It really is humbling to think that your peers would think that of you and give you such an honor as to be inducted into the MAIS Hall of Fame. We have had a lot of talented players who have worked really hard to make this possible. And I couldn’t have done with with the support of the parents, players and administration throughout the years.”

Pickens said he has also been fortunate to coach with numerous Hall of Fame coaches through the years. 

“I’ve been very blessed in my coaching career,” Pickens said. “I’ve coached with guys in the MAIS Hall of Fame. I’ve coached with people who are in the MHSAA Hall of Fame and I’ve been very blessed to work with such outstanding people through the years. I think the biggest thing is you take stuff from all of these people, whether it be a football coach or even a basketball coach that you have worked with or an administrator that you have worked with. I think as you grow in your career, you learn from those people and take a little bit of what they do and kind of make it your own. I’ve been very blessed to be around those people.”

Pickens, a Mississippi State graduate, has served as headmaster of Leake Academy since 2015. He has been active in the MAIS Academy Activities Commission  and currently serves on the MAIS executive committee.