Dean Vickerman is set to take the next step in his coaching career, with the Melbourne United head coach expected to join Nagasaki Velca ahead of the inaugural season of the Japanese B.League Premier.
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Sources have told Fox Sports Australia that Vickerman is working towards a release from his current deal with Melbourne, where he remains contracted through the 2027–28 season. Both parties are understood to be progressing towards a buyout, which would bring an end to a highly successful tenure.
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During his time with United, Vickerman has built one of the strongest coaching records in the league, leading the club to NBL championships in 2018 and 2021 while compiling a 249-149 record (62.6%). His broader résumé includes three Coach of the Year awards and another title with the New Zealand Breakers in 2015, along with multiple championships as an assistant coach earlier in his career.
He is set to replace Mody Maor, who is expected to explore new opportunities after a successful stint in Japan. Maor previously coached the Breakers, guiding them to the NBL finals in the 2022-23 season, where they fell just short in a five-game series against the Sydney Kings.
At Nagasaki, Maor is working alongside assistant coach and Breakers legend, Paul Henare, with the club currently sitting atop the B.League West Division with a 46-12 record. The roster features players familiar to NBL fans, including Jarrell Brantley and Lee Hyun-Jung.
Vickerman’s expected arrival signals a major move for Nagasaki as they prepare for a new era, bringing in one of the most proven and consistent coaches in Australian basketball.