E-mail: victoria.picott@vanderbilt.edu
Vicky Picott has served as an assistant coach under Melanie Balcomb for over a decade, including the last 10 years as the post coach for the Commodores.
Under Picott the Commodores[apos] inside presence has played a large role in the team having an average national rank of 8th in field-goal percentage under Balcomb.
The last several seasons have produced some of Picott[apos]s finest coaching efforts. In 2009, the Commodores lost their starting center due to injury shortly before postseason play and Picott employed the 5-foot-8 Jennifer Risper to occupy the middle of the court. Despite a size disadvantage, Risper and forward Christina Wirth guided the Commodores to the SEC Tournament title and the Sweet 16.
In 2010, Picott again was faced with having an undersized interior. However, despite being small in stature, the Commodores advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Picott also helped forwards Elan Brown and Tiffany Clarke earn SEC All-Freshman honors.
In 2011, Picott helped freshman center Stephanie Holzer earn SEC Sixth Woman of the Year, honorable mention All-SEC and a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team.
In 2012, Picott mentored Clarke (coaches honorable mention) and Holzer (AP honorable mention) to All-SEC honors. The pair both ranked in the top-10 in the league in field goal percentage and rebounds per game.
Picott has developed a number of inside players at Vanderbilt into professional prospects, including 2007 first-round WNBA draft pick Carla Thomas. In seven seasons, six Commodores under Picott[apos]s tutelage have been selected in the WNBA draft, including Thomas (Chicago), second-overall pick Chantelle Anderson (2003, Sacramento), Wirth (2009, Indiana), Risper (2009, Chicago), Jenni Benningfield (2004, Indiana) and Earley (2005, Indiana).
[quote]The consistency that Vicky Picott has given our team has been invaluable,[quote] Balcomb said. [quote]You can[apos]t win without that consistency. Vicky is an extremely knowledgeable teacher with a passion for the game that sets her apart. I[apos]m always telling kids that if they want to go to the pros as a post, they need to come play for Vicky.[quote]
Picott, who prepped at the same high school that produced Balcomb, came to Nashville with her fellow New Jerseyan in 2002 after two seasons at Xavier.
There, Picott helped direct the Musketeers to a 43-22 mark, including the 2000-01 campaign that featured a trip to the NCAA Tournament Mideast Regional Finals. Before joining Balcomb at Xavier, Picott served as an assistant coach at Temple from 1995-2000. She also worked as an assistant coach at Drexel during the 1994-95 season.
Picott is a 1992 graduate of Rutgers University. She still ranks fourth in school history in career points (1,792), third in rebounds (1,029) and fifth in steals (225). A four-year starter at Rutgers, Picott was named the Atlantic-10 Freshman of the Year following the 1998 season.
She earned all-conference honors three times and was a two-time Most Valuable Player of her team. Picott also earned the New Jersey Sports Writers Player of the Year and District II Regional All-America honors her senior season. For her efforts, Picott was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Fame on April 26, 1998.
Picott boasts extensive international experience, as well. She was selected to two Olympic Festival Teams (1987, 1989) and was a member of the Junior World Championship team that brought won gold after competing in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Picott played in the Women[apos]s Professional Basketball Association in Luxembourg (1992-93), helping to lead the Etzella Team to the Luxembourg Cup Championship. While in Luxembourg, she continued her development in coaching by working with high school teams.
Vicky Picott Facts
Full Name: Victoria Picott
Birthdate: January 28, 1969
Hometown: Trenton, N.J.
Family: three brothers, three sisters
High School: Hightstown (New Jersey)
College: Rutgers
Year Graduated: 1992
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Coaching Career
2002-present Vanderbilt, Asst. Coach
2000-02 Xavier, Asst. Coach
1995-2000 Temple, Asst. Coach
1994-95 Drexel, Asst. Coach
1993-94 Hightstown HS, Fresh. Coach
1991-92 Rutgers, Student Asst.
Playing Career
1992-93 Etzella Team
Helped lead her team to a first-ever second round appearance in the European Cup Championship… League Champion and earned Team and Tournament MVP honors
1987-92 Rutgers University
Four-year starter… Named Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Year… Three-time All-Conference selection… Two-time team MVP… As a senior, she was named the New Jersey Sports Writers Player of the Year and a District II Regional All-American… Was a student assistant while finishing degree in sports management.
1983-87 Hightstown HS (NJ)
Won state championship and was MVP of the state tournament her senior year… Holds the record for most points scored by a male or female with 2,279 points.