Bulla Basketball Memories: Dean Vickerman - From Warragul to the big time

Thanks to Bulla Family Dairy we are taking a look back at some of our players’ and coaches’ early days of basketball.

Melbourne United head coach Dean Vickerman is one of the most revered figures in Australian basketball. His love of the sport goes back to a youth sporting club in the state’s south-east.

Vickerman’s father, a local Australian Rules football coach, would set up regular basketball sessions for the local junior athletes. It was at these sessions that Dean was first introduced to the sport.

“My Dad ran basketball sessions at our local youth club in Warragul,” he told Melbourne United Media.

“We’d head down to them a couple of times a week. After primary school we would run down there and get some skills and work out.

“I remember the court was a three-quarter length of a normal court and it was really fun.

“It was my first introduction to basketball, my dad coached, and my mum was still playing at that time, for me that was my first time getting into basketball.”

From those first sessions in Warragul, Vickerman progressed up the ranks where he was faced with a decision – make the step to junior representation basketball or follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue a football career.

“During under 14s, I had to make a decision to go to the state footy camp or basketball camp. At the time I chose basketball because my Dad had just built a concrete slab, put a hoop up and I could practice.

“I fell more in love with the game because I could practice more, we were out on a farm and it was great to be able to do it – I didn’t have a brother, but I had a sister (to practice with).”

Vickerman made his name as a player with Melbourne Tigers, being coached by some of the sport’s biggest names.

Vickerman (front right) with teammates including as Andrew Gaze, Warrick Giddey, Dave Simmons & Simon Mitchell 

He said the experience was an invaluable opportunity to keep progressing as a player before he eventually opted to move into coaching.

“The first rep team I was playing for was Warragul,” he said.

“Once my parents and I realised I had a passion for it, I joined the Melbourne competition and started playing for the Dandenong Rangers in under 14s and by under 16s I had moved to the Tigers where I played my junior and senior careers.

“My experience at the Tigers was awesome, I had some really amazing coaches there. My first coach was Lindsay Gaze, then I was able to have Brett Brown and then Tony Gaze”

Some of the biggest names in Australian basketball shaped Vickerman at an early age, setting him on the course towards becoming an NBL Championship winning coach.

It was those days at Melbourne Tigers which saw Vickerman gain a foothold in Australian basketball ahead of his successful coaching career.