3× New Hampshire Coach of the Year Stan Lomax-Irving T. Marsh Eastern Coach of the Year Award (1997) Boston Gridiron Club's Coach of the Year Award (1997) Henry Butova Award (1997) Johnny Vaught Life Time Achievement Award (1999)
Pickett began his coaching career as the head football and basketball coach at Laconia High School. In his first season, Laconia won the Division II state title, their second ever championship and their first since 1951. He coached at Portsmouth High School from 1962 until 1964, when he became an assistant coach at Maine. In 1971 he joined Dick MacPherson as the defensive coordinator at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He was promoted to head coach following MacPherson's departure in 1978. In his first season as head coach, UMASS won the Yankee Conference championship and was runner-up finish in the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship. He served as head coach until 1983, compiling a record of 36–28 overall record and winning four Yankee Conference championships.[1]
Later life
Pickett served as UMASS' associate athletic director until his retirement in 1997. He was the color commentator on radio broadcasts of Minutemen football from 1998 to 2003.[2]