College of Staten Island Athletics

Many coaches catch lightning in a bottle and score themselves a winning season, but few did it as routinely or over such a long stretch of time as Evan Pickman.  One of SICC’s and CSI’s winningest coaches, Pickman spent a total of 12 seasons as the head coach to the Dolphins’ men’s basketball team, spending his initial season as an assistant in 1970.  From there, the results speak for themselves, and the domination began to take shape.

In 1971, Pickman took over the successful program and guided the squad through the next six seasons until the close of the 1976-77 campaign, when the merger between SICC and Richmond College created the College of Staten Island.  Over that stretch, Pickman amassed an impeccable 105-54 record, highlighted by a 24-3 overall mark in 1975-76.  The next year, CSI’s first as a four-year varsity program, Pickman stepped aside to pursue his doctorate degree, and the program suffered through a 6-17 campaign.  A year removed from the program, Pickman resumed head coaching duties in time for the 1978-79 season, and promptly led the squad to a 19-9 record and its first of four CUNYAC Championships over the next six seasons.  Two years later, CSI scored its first 20-win season, and the next year, Pickman guided the squad to its first of two 25-win seasons under his tenure.  By the time he stepped aside after the 1983-84 season, he amassed a 127-42 record, good for a .751 win percentage, the best of any coach spanning all CSI sports.  His teams won four CUNYAC titles, and made four straight NCAA National Championship Appearances, winning three games, all school highs.

After his time at SICC-CSI, Pickman enjoyed a two-year coaching stint at Tottenville High School before beginning a 24-year career as the Eastern Scout for the Los Angeles Clippers’ NBA franchise.  At the same time, Pickman was a Major Lecturer and Station 13 Master at The Five-Star Basketball Camp, where he taught, lectured, and trained future NBA players Lebron James, Vince Carter, Rasheed Wallace and many others.  Reinforcing the principles of sound body and mind, he began teaching physical education at the College beginning in 1970.  He retired in 2008, championing the institution of the mandatory PED 190 requirement that exists at the College today.