Jim Hickey (American football)

James Benton Hickey (January 22, 1920 – December 27, 1997) was an American football and basketball player, coach of football, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Hampden–Sydney College from 1951 to 1955 and at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1959 to 1966, compiling a career college football record of 63–56–4. Hickey was the athletic director at the University of Connecticut from 1966 to 1969.[1]

Jim Hickey
Hickey pictured in Yackety Yack 1967, North Carolina yearbook
Biographical details
Born(1920-01-22)January 22, 1920
Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedDecember 27, 1997(1997-12-27) (aged 77)
Southern Pines, North Carolina, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1938–1941William & Mary
Basketball
1940, 1942William & Mary
Position(s)Wingback, tailback (football)
Guard (basketball)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1951–1955Hampden–Sydney
1956–1958North Carolina (assistant)
1959–1966North Carolina
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1951–1955Hampden–Sydney
1966–1969Connecticut
Head coaching record
Overall63–56–4
Bowls1–0
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 Virginia Little Six/Seven (1952–1953, 1955)
2 Mason-Dixon (1953–1954)
1 ACC (1963)
Awards
ACC Coach of the Year (1963)

Education and career

edit

Hickey graduated from The College of William & Mary in 1942 and played wingback and tailback on the football team and guard on the basketball team. He was inducted into the William & Mary Athletics Hall of Fame in 1971. He served as a Lieutenant (junior grade) in the United States Navy during World War II. He coached football at Hampden–Sydney College for five years before joining the staff of Jim Tatum at the University of North Carolina in 1956 as an assistant. After Tatum's death in the summer of 1959, he accepted the position of head coach. Hickey was dismissed after the 1966 season and Bill Dooley succeeded him as North Carolina's head coach.[2]

Family

edit

Hickey was the son of William and Cora Hickey. He married Agnes Pauline Small Pardue on November 14, 1976, in Sanford, North Carolina. He died at the age of seventy-seven on December 27, 1997 and was buried at the Buffalo Cemetery in Sanford.[3][4]

Head coaching record

edit
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Hampden–Sydney Tigers (Mason-Dixon Conference / Virginia Little Six/Seven Conference) (1951–1955)
1951 Hampden–Sydney 4–3–2 1–1–2 / 1–1–1 3rd / T–2nd
1952 Hampden–Sydney 5–3–1 2–1–1 / 2–0–1 2nd / 1st
1953 Hampden–Sydney 5–1–1 3–0–1 / 3–0 1st / 1st
1954 Hampden–Sydney 5–3 3–1 / 2–1 1st / 2nd
1955 Hampden–Sydney 8–1 3–1 / 2–1 2nd / T–1st
Hampden–Sydney: 27–11–4 15–6–4
North Carolina Tar Heels (Atlantic Coast Conference) (1959–1966)
1959 North Carolina 5–5 5–2 2nd
1960 North Carolina 3–7 2–5 T–6th
1961 North Carolina 5–5 4–3 2nd
1962 North Carolina 3–7 3–4 T–4th
1963 North Carolina 9–2 6–1 T–1st W Gator 19
1964 North Carolina 5–5 4–3 T–3rd
1965 North Carolina 4–6 3–3 T–5th
1966 North Carolina 2–8 1–4 8th
North Carolina: 36–45 28–25
Total: 63–56–4
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

edit
  1. ^ "Jim Benton Hickey" (obituary). Raleigh, North Carolina: The News & Observer, December 28, 1977, p. 33 (subscription required).
  2. ^ "Jim Benton Hickey" (obituary), The News & Observer, December 28, 1977.
  3. ^ "James B. Hickey" (funeral notice). Greensboro, North Carolina: News & Record, December 28, 1997, p. 17 (subscription required).
  4. ^ "Jim Benton Hickey" (obituary), The News & Observer, December 28, 1977.