Staff Directory
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Dave Dickerson rejoined the Ohio State men’s basketball program in March of 2024 as an assistant coach.
The Olar, S.C. native served as head coach of USC Upstate for the previous six seasons, leading the Spartans in their transition to the Big South Conference. He was also the head coach at Tulane for five seasons from 2005-10.
In total, Dickerson has over 20 years of college coaching experience with stops at Gardner-Webb, James Madison, Radford, Maryland, Tulane, Ohio State and US Upstate. Prior to heading to USC Upstate, he spent one year as a scout for the NBA’s Utah Jazz.
At Upstate, he led the Spartans to two of their best seasons since joining the DI ranks in 2007. The program made back-to-back postseason appearances in 2021-22 and 2022-23 and earned a No. 4 seed in the Big South Tournament each season. Dickerson was also named a finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year award while leading the program to the 2021-22 Big South Team Sportsmanship award.
Prior to going to USC Upstate, Dickerson was on staff for some of the best seasons in Ohio State history. He was an assistant coach under Thad Matta for seven years and served as associate head coach for the last six. During his time, Dickerson and the Buckeyes recorded 181 victories, two Big 10 Regular Season titles, three Big Ten Tournament title game appearances, three Sweet 16 appearances, an Elite Eight run in 2013 and the 2012 Final Four. Ohio State participated in NCAA Tournament play in five of his seven seasons.
Before coming to Ohio State in 2010, Dickerson spent five years as head coach at Tulane. He compiled 68 wins after inheriting a Green Wave basketball program that had registered just one winning season during the five years prior to his arrival. He guided the Green Wave to back-to-back winning seasons in 2006-07 and 2007-08, a feat that had not been achieved in the 11 previous years.
Prior to being named head coach for the Green Wave, Dickerson served as an assistant coach at Maryland, his alma mater, under head coach Gary Williams for nine years. In 2004-05, Dickerson was elevated to associate head coach. He helped the Terrapins to nine consecutive postseason appearances, including five Sweet 16’s, two Final Fours and the program’s first-ever National Championship in 2002. Maryland also enjoyed eight 20-win seasons during his tenure. Serving as the lead recruiter for the Terrapins, Dickerson recruited and coached two NBA lottery picks – Steve Francis (1999) and Chris Wilcox (2002) – and four overall first round picks in Keith Booth (1997), Francis, Wilcox and Juan Dixon (2002).
Dickerson played forward at Maryland from 1985-89, serving as co-captain as a senior in 1989 and making a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. He graduated in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in government and politics.
Soon after graduating, Dickerson began his coaching career at Gardner-Webb for one season. He joined then joined former head coach Lefty Driesell at James Madison for a 1992 season that culminated in a bid to the NIT.
After leaving James Madison, Dickerson was on the coaching staff at Radford for four seasons as an assistant coach. The recruiting classes he helped assemble were ranked among the nation’s best. The 1994 season saw the Highlanders compile a 20-8 record and a school-record winning percentage of 71.4. Radford also gained national acclaim and became one of the Big South’s most successful programs during his tenure.
Coaching accolades for Dickerson throughout his coaching career include AFLAC Assistant Coach of the Year in 2003, the ACC’s No. 1 Assistant Coach as named by Basketball News (2003-04), Athlon Sports’ No. 4 Assistant Coach in the nation (2003-04) and an “Assistant Coach on the Rise” as tabbed by ESPN’s Andy Katz. He was the National Association of Basketball Coaches District 8 Coach of the Year in 2007-08.
Dickerson and his late wife, Laurette, who bravely fought breast cancer for over five years before passing away on March 2, 2022, have one son, Dave III who played five seasons for his father at USC Upstate.
Dickerson’s Coaching Career
2024-Pres. Ohio State Assistant Coach
2018–24 USC Upstate Head Coach (6 seasons)
2010–17 Ohio State Assistant Coach/Associate Head Coach (7 seasons)
2005–10 Tulane Head Coach (5 seasons)
1996–05 Maryland Assistant Coach/Associate Head Coach (9 seasons)
1992–96 Radford Assistant Coach (4 seasons)
1991–92 James Madison Assistant Coach (1 season)
1990–91 Gardner–Webb Assistant Coach (1 season)
