Dickerson had outstanding coaching career in Thorndale

Bradley Dickerson, the girls athletic director and head girls basketball coach at Thorndale, has resigned from being the head girls basketball coach. 

He intends to use that time to watch his son play all of his basketball games next year and his actual retirement is just a couple of years away. Until then, he plans to stay on as a teacher, athletic director and still coach various other sports. Before coaching at Thorndale, he was the boys basketball coach in Holland from 1996-1998. Later in 1998, he was offered a coaching position on the boys basketball team for Thorndale.  

“I was living in Thorndale and coaching in Holland,” Bradley Dickerson said. “Coach (Jeff) Lieberman contacted me about coming and being his assistant. It was an attractive offer. I knew the tradition and type of kids Thorndale had and it was close to home and family.” 

He eventually became the head coach of the girls team and has been at Thorndale for 25 years. Along with being a great coach, as the girls athletic director, he has completely changed the girls program from what it was to a powerhouse program where every sport competes for district titles and beyond every year. 

His wife, Jenny Dickerson, believes he is considered one of a dying breed of coaches who sticks with a school through good times and bad for years on end and stays to build a program that the community can be proud of.

“Not many coaches stay in one place as long as Bradley stayed here, but when we had kids, he decided to not chase the many job offers he received over the years and to keep his family in this community and in this school district,” Jenny Dickerson said. “He has really touched a lot of kids’ lives over the years and been a leader who has built this girls program into something that is respected around central Texas.”

“I have enjoyed being in Thorndale and raising a family here,” Bradley Dickerson said. “Coaching the kids that I have had the opportunity to coach has been a true blessing, as I think back at all of the kids I have been able to teach and coach I realize how blessed I have been. The thing I have enjoyed most about coaching the basketball teams in Thorndale is the fact that every time we stepped on the court our opponent knew they had to play and compete because we were going to ... the kids here just play so hard and are so competitive. Win or lose they fight. I think that is the characteristic that we are known for.”

Coach Dickerson has made so many memories during his time as the coach in Thorndale. Some of his top ones include the five regional finals appearances and the 14 district championships. Another great memory of his is from the 2015 season where they were in a three-way tie for second place. They had a mini tournament in Granger with Milano and Thrall, and they won both games at the buzzer and won the second seed. That was a team that he felt really overachieved. He also looks back at the magical year of 2008 when the Lady Dogs won the Regional Championship and made a State Semi-Final appearance, which was a first for the girls basketball program at Thorndale.

“There have been so many great memories and I appreciate the opportunity I was given here by Garland Calhoun, Jeff Lieberman, and Gene Solis,” he said. “I have enjoyed working with the coaches I have worked with here and many of the employees. It truly is a special place.” 

After missing the playoffs his first three years as the girls head coach, he has made them into a perennial playoff contender for the last 20 consecutive years. 

Coach Dickerson retires with an incredible career record of 538-210 as the Lady Dogs head coach. Congratulations to Coach Bradley Dickerson, as he will be greatly missed by the girls basketball team. He has truly made a difference on that team and the entire Thorndale High School.