Graham to fill big shoes as Pickett departs Macon East

By TIM GAYLE

Will Graham has never had a head coaching position before, but his first job as the new baseball coach at Macon East Academy certainly earned the endorsement of his predecessor and former coach, Bob Pickett. 

“I couldn’t be more thrilled that one of my former players is going to get the opportunity that I got,” Pickett said. “He’s going to knock it out of the park. The kids love him and he’s a great coach.”

Graham formally accepted the job on Thursday, concluding an eight-day search that started and ended with the former Knight who has served the past three years as Pickett’s assistant coach.

“It’s not so often you get to walk into a situation like this as a new head coach,” Graham said. “I played for Bob and I coached for him for three years. Really, he did a great job of setting the standard for this program. It’s been a championship contender every year. He set the standard not only with the talent level and the play on the field, but also with character and how the kids carry themselves on and off the field. Really, when I look at this job, it really, really makes me excited that, one, we bring back a lot of talent and, two, we bring back a high character group of young men that I’ll be able to coach.”

Macon East headmaster Glynn Lott never considered anyone other than Graham, but wanted to withhold any details of the coaching search until Graham was hired on Thursday and could meet with the players on Friday. 

“I was able to talk him into coming back,” Lott said. “He came in and we signed everything and he’s going to be the head baseball coach, help with football and I’m going to make him my dean of students. He’s going to help learn what Mr. Don (Oswald) does.

“He’s going to be a real good one. When this came up with Bob, he was my first choice.”

Pickett’s decision to leave wasn’t easy. When he finally made that choice, a few days before the Fourth of July, his first stop was to Lott, prior to gathering his players.

“It was extremely emotional, telling the kids and even Coach Lott,” Pickett said. “It’s not like I’m leaving on bad terms. I’m forever grateful to Coach Lott for giving me a chance. His family will always be friends. They’re like family. 

“Through the 10 years, it’s not just me getting to see countless players and hopefully impacting a few lives, they’ve watched my family grow as well. Me and Sarah went there with no kids and now we have two. It’s the only school Walker has ever known. They’ve been great to my family. I want nothing but the best for Macon East. I’ll always be a Knight at heart. I’ll still be cheering for them, just from a different side.”

Pickett accepted a job as defensive coordinator and assistant baseball coach at Ariton High, reuniting with Steven Kilcrease after having served on the same coaching staff at Pike Liberal Arts from 2007-2012.

“When he came and told me, I told him what I tell them all: he’s got to do what’s best for him and his family,” Lott said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for Bob. We can’t thank him enough for what he’s done here. Our relationship is not just coaching, we’re friends also, so I want the best for him.”

Graham, a 2015 graduate of Macon East and a 2019 graduate of Auburn, planned to relocate in the Atlanta area after his impending marriage, but couldn’t turn down Lott when the offer was made.

“I was a little shocked,” he admitted. “After I was offered the job, it kind of set in. It was a hard decision to make, but it was hard because I had a very good option on the table. I felt honored and blessed to be in that situation and to even be considered for this job.”

Graham was a middle infielder for the Knights on the 2015 team that went 36-11 before losing in the AA finals to Edgewood Academy. After graduating from Auburn, Graham returned to Macon East to help Pickett coach the 2020, 2021 and 2022 teams, reaching the semifinals in 2021 and winning the AA title in 2022.   

“The biggest takeaway I got from Bob is no matter what’s going on -- no matter if you’re winning, no matter if you’re losing, no matter if the kid’s playing every day or if he’s not playing every day -- he genuinely cares about each and every one of those kids,” Graham said. “That’s something that stood out to me. As a player, to feel how much a coach cares about you, really means a lot to you. And that helps set the standard for this program, that we’ve got a coach that would do anything for us.”

Anticipating Graham’s departure, the Knights had hired assistant coach Dawson Moncrief, a former player at Autauga Academy and UT-Martin. Moncrief will now serve as Graham’s assistant. 

Graham also served with Lott on the football staff as an offensive assistant and will continue in that role while Duane McWhorter is promoted to defensive coordinator to fill Pickett’s former role.