Vickerman to coach Boomers
Former Warragul resident and basketball coach Dean Vickerman will be taking charge of the Australian men’s national team for two games this week.
Dean, who was born in Warragul and raised locally in Nilma North, will act as head coach for the Boomers during their World Cup qualifying matches against Bahrain and Kazakhstan on Thursday and Sunday respectively. The current Melbourne United coach will be filling in for Brian Goorjian, who led the team to a bronze medal at the Olympics in 2021.
It’s been a long road for Dean, 51, towards helming the national team. Having begun his career in Warragul, he has gradually climbed the ranks, leading multiple NBL teams to sustained success.
He is a three-time NBL champion coach, and has previously coached the Singapore national team, as well as being an assistant for the New Zealand national team.
And while those opportunities have been exciting, Dean said he was keen to finally get the chance to lead his home nation.
“I’m just super excited to see my green and gold gear arrive and to be able to put it on and represent my country,” he said.
“Hopefully I just do a good job and the country feels like they might need me for something else down the track as well.”
He will have his work cut out for him too, as many of the team’s first-choice players will be unavailable due to commitments in the NBL and NBA.
Despite that, Dean said with bronze medallist players Nick Kay and Nathan Sobey likely to play, plus a healthy mix of youth, he’ll have confidence in whatever team takes the floor. He said he planned on bringing his brand to the side, with “tough and accountable defence” being a top priority.
Dean’s mother Pam, who along with her husband John are wellknown in the Warragul community, said they were “very proud.”
“He’s worked very hard, he deserves his opportunity and we’re very happy for him,” she said.
“I think he sees it as an opportunity, we certainly do for him. Having a foot in the door would be good in case they need someone again later.”
Dean still takes pride in his Warragul upbringing, where he went to school at Warragul Primary School and St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School. He’s even returned to the latter on multiple occasions, giving talks to the school’s up-and-coming athletes.
“I’ll always continue to support the school and basketball in Warragul where I can,” he said.