Zach Pickelman was introduced as the 16th men’s basketball head coach in McM school history on April 9, 2015. Pickelman also serves as McMurry's Assistant Athletics Director for Internal Operations. He enters his ninth season in 2023-24.
Pickelman came to McM after serving on the men’s basketball coaching staff at nearby Hardin-Simmons University since 2007. Pickelman was a graduate assistant for the Cowboys from 2007-09 and the program’s assistant coach from 2009-2015 under Craig Carse. Pickelman also played collegiately at HSU (2003-2007), where he was a four-time all-American Southwest Conference West selection. As a senior in 2007, he was the ASC “Player of the Year” and earned honorable mention All-American status from Division III News. He was also a three-time ASC Academic All-Conference honoree. He also had the distinction of being involved in all eight ASC post-season tournament appearances in Hardin-Simmons school history, as either a player or a coach. In 2014-15, HSU was the ASC regular season co-champion. For all of his accomplishments, HSU inducted him into its Athletics Hall of Fame, Class of 2022.
As a head coach, Pickelman has now completed eight seasons. After a difficult start to the 2022-23 slate, the War Hawks managed to win three of four around the holidays to spotlight a 7-18 finish. In 2021-2022, he led McMurry back to postseason contention as the No. 6 seed in the ASC Tournament. The team finished with some historic and thrilling wins, including a three-overtime thriller that stole headlines around the state. McMurry defeated Howard Payne by a final of 125-112, setting a new school record for single game team rebounds with 70 while going to triple-overtime for the second time in school history. With 1.3 seconds to go in regulation, McMurry trailed 83-80, but Elias Garcia tied the game with a half-court buzzer beater. McMurry finished with a 9-15 overall record and a 7-11 record in ASC play, but found most of its success on the road with a 6-6 away record. Three players earned all-conference honors.
Pickelman completed his sixth season at the helm in 2020-21. Four players earned all-conference honors, including the ASC West Division Co-Freshman of the Year Michael Imariagbe, who also earned an all-conference honorable mention, a spot on the division's all-defensive team and on the division's all-freshman team. In 2019-20, McM had three players named All-ASC West, with senior Mike Williams Jr. earning first team honors. Under Pickelman's guidance, senior Zacc Carter became the 30th player in program history to score 1,000 career points. Freshman Cody LeBlanc was named the ASC West Freshman of the Year. Pickelman coached the War Hawks back to the ASC Tournament for the first time in 2018-19 since 2012, posting a 10-16, 7-9 ASC record. Junior Mike Williams earned second team All-ASC West honors and was named to the ASC West Defensive Team.
In 2017-18, McM once again went 9-16 (6-11 in the American Southwest Conference). Senior LaRandall Scroggins and sophomore Zacc Carter both received ASC All-West Division honors. Scroggins also earned NCCAA All-Region honorable mention honors. The 2016-17 War Hawks improved to 9-16 overall (5-12 in a tough ASC race). Pickelman's young roster placed three players on the ASC West All-Freshman team, including Freshman of the Year Kaan Yilmaz. Nate Estrada earned NCCAA All-Region honorable mention honors. In his first season at the War Hawks' helm in 2015-16, the team went 3-22 on a roster with just three seniors.
Off the court, Pickelman has coached 19 Academic All-ASC honorees, two NCCAA Scholar-Athletes and had senior Dedrick Berry Jr. earn the ASC West Sportsmanship Award in 2019-20. In 2011, Pickelman was an assistant coach for the D3Hoops.com All-Star team. The group played a series of games in London and Paris.
Pickelman earned his bachelor’s degree in business Administration from HSU in 2007 and his master’s in sports management in 2009.
