Career
He served as the head football coach at Wofford College (1947–1952), the University of Wyoming earning the Rocky Mountain Coach of the year honors in 1955 and 1956 (1953–1956), and Indiana University (1958–1964), compiling a career record of 89–68–10. Dickens was also the head basketball coach at Wofford for one season in 1941-1942, tallying a mark of 10–14. During his tenure at Indiana, Dickens compiled a 20–41–2 record.
He was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 1974.
Dickens attended the University of Tennessee, where he was a third-team All-American in 1936 and All-Securities and Exchange Commission at halfback. During his time at Indiana University, Dickens was investigated for violations in athletic recruiting.
Dickens was hired as the head Football coach at Indiana University in 1957 after his success at Wofford College and Wyoming. Knowing that the Hoosiers were at a recruiting disadvantage, Dickens blatantly disregarded the rules, with reports of seventeen violations by the Indiana University football program in his first three months.
Reports stated that the school offered, "$50 per month, or expense-paid travel between the prospects hometown and Bloomington." Although no offenses were consummated, Indiana chose to forbid Dickens from performing any coaching related activities during the 1957 football season.
Additionally, Indiana was placed on probation for one year by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
