Assistant basketball coach Randall Dickey is making an impact in his first season at Auburn both on and off the court.
Dickey started playing basketball in the first grade and never looked back--he continued on to play point guard in high school and NAIA basketball at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark.
The boy who grew up on a cattle ranch in Valley Springs, Ark., went on to become an all-region, district 17, honorable mention in college basketball.
His coaching career began in fall 1983 in Hot Springs, Ark., when he become a seventh grade basketball coach.
He said his greatest achievement as a coach thus far was coaching in the final four in 1995 at Oklahoma State University.
Before coming to Auburn in April 2010 as a part of Tony Barbee's program, Dickey coached for six years at Oklahoma State University, four years at Washington State University and six years at The University of Texas at El Paso.
During his time at Auburn, he has played an active part in both recruiting players and on-the-floor coaching.
Dickey said the most rewarding part of coaching is seeing the players on the team grow both on and off the court.
"It's extremely gratifying to be around young men and to be able to share a small part about what you know about the game and how it attributes to successes on the floor as well as in life," Dickey said. "I think that is the most self-rewarding part."
He said basketball is an especially difficult and emotional sport because it spans two seasons.
He enjoys helping the players through the pressures and challenges of playing at the collegiate level.
Dickey said although it is not always reflected in the team's record, he is proud of the progress the team has made throughout the season.
He also said he respects the longevity of the programs, communication skills and the flexibility of systems under coaches like UNC's coach Roy Williams, Gregg Popovich of the San Antonia Spurs and Phil Jackson of the Los Angeles Lakers.
"I've always had the aspiration to become a head coach--I'm a kind of journeyman assistant coach--this is my 17th year at this level," Dickey said.
Dickey said he is excited to be a part of the new arena at Auburn and enjoys working with the staff since they've been together for five years.
"We have a good philosophy, we play a fun brand of basketball, so this is a exciting place to be at this time for sure," Dickey said.
Dickey said balancing his coaching career with his family is not especially difficult since his wife, 12-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son are all involved and supportive when it comes to basketball.
Point guard Joshua Wallace, redshirt sophomore and power forward Adrian Forbes, junior, said Dickey is renowned for his old-school mentality and sense of humor.
"Some times when he talks, you just can't help but laugh," Forbes said.
Wallace said his sense of humor doesn't keep Dickey from still being a serious coach, and he regularly helps break the game down by watching film with the team.
"He's a great coach--he can be serious at times, but he also is funny--I think he's a little bit of a comedian," said junior power and small forward Kenny Gabriel.
"He always tells me to move with a purpose, so I guess it would be my defense and how to be a better defensive player that he helps me with the most," Gabriel said.
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