sooner gone
skip pickens 7/10/2012 10:39AM Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Is this the OU track director of operations?

Skip Pickens, 50, died Sunday, July 8, 2012, at Norman Regional Hospital. Funeral services are pending. Havenbrook Funeral Home....

http://normantranscript.com/deathnotices

http://www.soonersports.com/school-bio/skip_pickens.html
coach d.
RE: skip pickens 7/10/2012 11:25AM - in reply to sooner gone Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
From what I know, yes.
Sad123
RE: skip pickens 7/10/2012 12:41PM - in reply to coach d. Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Pickens was director of operations, but more recently was actually the women's distance coach. He was real stand up guy, sad to see him go so soon.

http://www.flotrack.org/video/507561-Skip-Pickens-Oklahoma-women-before-Griak-Invite-2011

http://www.flotrack.org/video/515500-Coach-Skip-Pickens-Oklahoma-2011-Midwest-Regional
webfoot
RE: skip pickens 7/10/2012 1:16PM - in reply to sooner gone Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Sad news. There was a thread about Skip yesterday but it must have been deleted.
webfoot
RE: skip pickens 7/10/2012 8:47PM - in reply to sooner gone Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
http://www.soonersports.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/071012aaa.html

Oklahoma Remembers Skip Pickens

Assistant coach Skip Pickens passed away over the weekend.

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department lost a member of its family this past weekend as Donald "Skip" Pickens passed away.

Pickens dedicated the last seven years to the University of Oklahoma track and field program and recently completed his third season as an assistant coach, overseeing the women's distance program.

He joined the Sooner staff in July 2005 as the program's director of operations, overseeing administrative duties, student-athlete relations, event planning and travel after joining OU from the University of Oregon.

In 1998, Pickens earned a master's degree in exercise physiology from the University of Oregon, with a graduate thesis on endurance training and its effect on calcium uptake in skeletal muscle.

He received his bachelor's degree from Oregon State University in physical education in 1986 and served as a teaching assistant in the respiratory dynamics lab in addition to authoring various articles on training.

Pickens is survived by his wife, Becky, and two sons, Isaiah and Aiden.
aachener
RE: skip pickens 7/10/2012 10:12PM - in reply to webfoot Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
pretty young...natural causes?
Secondary Placement
RE: skip pickens 7/11/2012 12:09AM - in reply to Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Sip happened to appreciate and respect his boss for the advice and support that his boss provided. What kind of human being would come to a message board and post as did "Ex-Coworker"? Tactless and totally lackiing class, barely a human being in my opinion.
qwerty,,
RE: skip pickens 7/11/2012 7:51AM - in reply to Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Many of us put up with a lot of crap from our bosses.


Ex-Coworker wrote:

Skip was great guy that was always upbeat.

He put up with a lot of crap each day from his boss.
agtrkfan
RE: skip pickens 7/11/2012 8:14AM - in reply to qwerty,, Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
prayers for his family - he left behind a wife and 2 children.
wtf!
RE: skip pickens 7/11/2012 8:17AM - in reply to agtrkfan Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Perhaps you will feel better, won't do a thing for them.


agtrkfan wrote:

prayers for his family - he left behind a wife and 2 children.
agtrkfan
RE: skip pickens 7/11/2012 8:28AM - in reply to wtf! Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
wtf, way to be an ass.
In the loop
RE: skip pickens 7/11/2012 11:50AM - in reply to sooner gone Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Skip was a wonderful person with a ready smile. This is very sad news.
qwerty,,
RE: skip pickens 7/11/2012 9:25PM - in reply to agtrkfan Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Sounds like a realist to me.


agtrkfan wrote:

wtf, way to be an ass.
thelias
RE: skip pickens 7/12/2012 2:43AM - in reply to sooner gone Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
So sad. This guy was the coolest. Went to Oregon Distance Camp in 2001 and he ran with and taught us foot strengthening drills, all while being so down to earth and having a great time with us preps. What a guy.
webfoot
RE: skip pickens 7/12/2012 9:43AM - in reply to thelias Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
From the Eugene Register-Guard this morning...

http://www.registerguard.com/web/sports/28371167-41/pickens-track-field-oklahoma-oregon.html.csp

Former UO track director of operations Donald “Skip” Pickens dies at 50

Donald “Skip” Pickens worked under Martin Smith at Oregon and Oklahoma

Published: (Thursday, Jul 12, 2012 04:25AM) Today

Donald “Skip” Pickens, who served as director of track and field operations at the University of Oregon from 2002-05 and was a 1986 graduate of Oregon State, died Sunday at Norman Regional Hospital in Oklahoma. He was 50.

For the past seven years, Pickens worked in the track and field program at the University of Oklahoma under former UO track coach Martin Smith.

Pickens was director of track and field operations at Oklahoma from 2005-08 and recently completed his third season as assistant coach in charge of the OU women’s distance program.

According to an Oklahoma spokesperson, Pickens became ill after the Big 12 championships in May. No official cause of death has been announced.

Pickens, a native of Beaverton, received his undergraduate degree from OSU in physical education in 1986. He served as a teaching assistant in the respiratory dynamics lab in addition to authoring several articles on training.

He began his initial association with Oregon as a graduate and undergraduate computer instructor in statistical, physical education and writing courses from 1987-93.

In 1998, Pickens earned his master’s degree at Oregon in exercise physiology with a graduate thesis on endurance training and its effect on calcium uptake in skeletal muscle.

He joined the Ducks’ track and field staff as a men’s volunteer distance coach in 2001.

Before that, he worked with post-collegiate coach Dick Brown, who helped guide the careers of several Olympic distance runners.

Pickens also served as an adviser to former Eugenean Steve Plasencia, an Olympian and World Championship qualifier in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters.

Pickens also worked as a physical education instructor at Oak Hill School and the Fun Times county youth program. As an athlete, he competed in the 5,000 and 10,000 from 1984-92.

Pickens is survived by his wife, Becky, and two sons, Isaiah and Aiden.

Funeral services are pending.