Photo courtesy of JMCSS
Former Madison Academic High School basketball player Andrew Hicks is coming home. Hicks, a member of the school’s first basketball team and first graduating class at Madison, was named head basketball coach of MAHS Wednesday.
“This opportunity to come full circle and be the head coach at the new building and being on the University of Memphis Lambuth campus is truly an exciting opportunity,” Hicks said.
Hicks returns to West Tennessee after spending the past three seasons at Shelbyville High School in Bedford County. Prior to his time with the Golden Eagles, Hicks was head basketball coach at Lexington High School. The Tigers had immense success during that time, winning 74 games and a region championship.
“I’m a very competitive person, so I’m going to do everything in my power to put us in situations to be successful. My staff will help us develop these kids,” Hicks said.
Hicks was an assistant coach at Humboldt, Jackson Christian, and Liberty Tech, before taking over the LHS boys basketball program. His first priority at Madison Academic is to get to know the student-athletes; a priority that will be delayed briefly due to the TSSAA dead period.
“Even though I graduated from Madison, I’ll need to develop new relationships. We can’t see any of the players right now, but even getting to know the faculty now will help to get the train rolling in the right direction,” Hicks said.
Madison reached the Class A state tournament in 2021, but graduation, TSSAA reclassification and local rezoning for JCM will create several unknowns for the Mustangs in 2022.
“We’re going to get to work and not worry about things we can’t control,” Hicks said.
Andrew’s wife, Jen, will serve as his assistant coach. She will also serve as head coach of the Madison girls basketball team. District 13-AA will include Madison, Adamsville, Bolivar, Riverside and Scotts Hill.