Football | 3/18/2015 2:43:00 PM

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – The Lincoln University Director of Athletics Dr. Darryl A. Pope announced on Wednesday, March 18^th, 2015 that current assistant head coach Herb Pickens has been named the Lions interim head football coach, effective immediately.
 
Pickens has been a part of the Lincoln football program since their return to the gridiron in 2008 after a 47 year absence. He was the defensive coordinator from 2008-2013 and served as the linebackers coach on the 2014 team that led the CIAA in defensive touchdowns with six total. Since his arrival at Lincoln coach Pickens has served as the head recruiting coordinator for the football program that brought in several top recruits. Under his tutelage, Pickens coached five defensive All-CIAA First Team members: Tim Green, Brandon McElwee, Daron Jones, Brucelee Sterile, and Brion Robinson (Silver Spring, MD/Springbrook HS).
 
One of the program's first recruits Brucelee Sterile, was a standout on defense becoming the first ever All-CIAA Football Team member at The Lincoln University. Sterile finished 2010 ranked No. 30 in tackles by averaging 9.0 per game while leading the country's 15th-ranked defense that surrendered just 270.5 yards per game.
 
In 2011, the Lions defense ranked 12^th in the nation, led the nation in both sacks and tackles for a  loss. Linebacker Brandon McElwee and defensive end Tim Green were both named NCAA Division II Statistical champions. McElwee was named the 2011 NCAA Division statistical champion in solo tackles. He paced the Lions defense with 114 total tackles, including 79 solos. Green, who earned tons of postseason honors, including American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-American and the Associated Press Little All-American, was the 2011 NCAA Division II statistical champion in sacks. He led the CIAA and NCAA Division II with 17 sacks for a loss of 119 yards. Green is Lincoln's first-ever Division II All-American.
 
Prior to Lincoln, Pickens was the defensive line and inside linebackers coach at Lane College and the assistant linebackers coach and defensive coordinator at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas.
 
Among some of Pickens' accomplishments at Saint Mary's was finishing second in defense in the conference, finishing ninth nationally against the run and being ranked in the top 20 nationally in every defensive category in 2006. The following year, Pickens' defense was first against the pass and 10^th against the run.
 
At Saint Mary's, Pickens was the strength and conditioning coordinator and he was responsible for scouting report preparation. During his time at Lane College, Pickens broke down game film, assisted with the preparation of the game plan and developed the defensive scouting reports.
 
Before graduating from Lane College in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, Pickens played football at Grambling State University under Doug Williams, the quarterback of the super bowl champions Washington Redskins and the MVP of Super Bowl XXII.
 
While at Grambling, Pickens was a two-time SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) newcomer of the week and he was a second team honorable mention selection. The honors continued to arrive for Pickens at Lane College where he was a second-team all-conference selection in 2002.