Robert A. Pickett, eastern intercollegiate 175-pound champion in 1947, was named yesterday to coach the Harvard wrestling team next fall. His appointment was announced last night by Director of Athletics William J. Bingham '16.

Pickett, who coached the Syracuse freshmen through two undefeated seasons during the last three years, is a former intercollegiate wrestler at Yale and Syracuse. He won the eastern title while captain of the Orange.

Starting his wrestling career as a student at the Gilman Country School in Baltimore and at Governor Dummer Academy, Pickett had won Maryland scholastic championship in 1937, 1938, and 1939 prior to two undefeated seasons at Governor Dummer.

Pickett attended Yale from 1942 through 1944 and competed with the varsity mat team there. He entered the Navy in 1944 and served for two years, going to Syracuse in July, 1946. While in the Navy, Pickett gained the Far Western A.A.U. championship and received the Navy's Junior National A.A.U. Outstanding Wrestler Award. At Syracuse, Pickett was forced out of competition by an injury, after which he became freshman coach. A fullback on the Yale varsity football team for two years, Pickett has two brothers, Herbert and Lawrence, who were also outstanding Eli grapplers.

Pickett succeeds Forrest R. (Butch) Jordan, who went to the University of Connecticut with Art Valpey as line coach. Under Jordan, the Crimson won four matches and dropped three last season, tieing Virginia and Temple for 16th place in the eastern intercollegiates.