N.C. A&T Assistant Named Head Coach at Lenoir-Rhyne

Lenoir-Rhyne College has named Wayne W. Hicks to be head football coach effective Jan. 1. Hicks will report to Neill R. McGeachy Jr. ,66, who was recently appointed L-R's director of intercollegiate athletics.

Wayne Hicks

Prior to his appointment, Hicks served North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, N.C., as associate head coach/defensive coordinator.

He was promoted to that position in March 2000, after having served the previous five years as defensive coordinator. In 1999, the American Football Coaches Association nominated Hicks as Assistant Coach of the Year. He was named Division I-AA Defensive Coordinator of the Year by the American Football Coaches Magazine in October 2001 and July 2000. "Every winner was responsible for leading a unit that set records and established excellence," according to the magazine.

Prior to his service at N.C. A&T State University, Hicks served Elon University for seven years in several capacities, including co-offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator. In addition to teaching and coaching, he also served as strength and conditioning coach, equipment manager and recruiting manager. During those years Elon was part of the South Atlantic Conference to which L-R still belongs.

"We're very pleased that Lenoir-Rhyne has found the right fit for its football program in Wayne Hicks," McGeachy said. "He has an outstanding record as an assistant coach and comes very highly recommended."

Hicks will be the 17th head football coach in Lenoir-Rhyne College history. L-R's all-time football record is 406-362-34. The college's last winning season was eight years ago, in 1994, under the leadership of Charlie Forbes, when the team finished 8-2 and won a share of the South Atlantic Conference title.

While Hicks was coaching at N.C. A&T State University, the team enjoyed a winning 2001 season of 8-3 and ranked third in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Hicks coordinated the Aggies, Blue Death Defense that finished 19th in the nation for I-AA football and second in the MEAC. The Aggies finished first in the MEAC in total defense (259.8 yards) and fifth nationally. The team finished first in the MEAC in passing defense (143.6) and fourth nationally. They finished second in the MEAC in scoring defense (15.8) and fifth nationally. The Aggies finished second in the MEAC in rushing defense (116.2), second in pass defense efficiency (88.1), second in opponents first downs (166), and first in sacks (39).

In 2000 the Aggies also finished 8-3 overall and second in the MEAC. In 1999 the team won the Historically Black College National Championship and the MEAC Championship with a perfect 8-0 record. The team's overall record was 11-2, and the Aggies advanced to the quarterfinals of the I-AA playoffs with a win over Tennessee State University. The Aggies' team record in 1998 was 8-3; and in 1997 it was 7-4.

While Hicks coached at Elon University, the team finished among the top in total defense in the South Atlantic Conference and led the nation in rushing offense in 1992.

Hicks is married to the former Tara Houston of Bowie, Md., and the couple has one daughter. The family is a member of St. Mark's Church in Burlington, N.C. Hicks is an active member of the American Football Coaches Association and is a member of the North Carolina High School Athletics Association. He has been an active volunteer in and speaker for many organizations, including the Special Olympics World and State Games, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Football Camp, the National Association of Pop Warner Football, the Alamance Drug Free Clinics and the N.C. A&T State University Summer Football Clinic.

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