PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL graduate Dan Dickau has joined the coaching staff of the Portland Trail Blazers, a team he also played for on two occasions during his NBA career.
Prairie High School graduate Dan Dickau has been blessed in his life with the opportunity to realize many dreams. Last week, he realized one more.
Dickau was named to the coaching staff of the Portland Trail Blazers as a player development assistant and he began his new job immediately as the team opened its training camp on Dec. 9.
“My goal and dream as a kid was to play with the Blazers,’’ Dickau said. “I was lucky enough to have that opportunity. Now, I’m lucky enough to move into that next stage and have the opportunity to be a member of this organization once again.’’
Dickau played six seasons in the National Basketball Association from 2002-08, including parts of two seasons with the Trail Blazers (2003-04, 2006-07). In his new role as player development assistant, Dickau will work with Dean Cooper on player development, focusing on the team’s point guards.
“I’m excited about it,’’ Dickau said. “Being three years out of actually playing in the NBA, it was a perfect time to look for that next opportunity and this came up. It really is a great first step into the coaching world to get my feet wet and start learning.’’
Dickau is excited to work with several young guards on Portland’s roster including rookie Nolan Smith and second-year players Eliot Williams and Armon Johnson.
“I will be focusing a lot on the guards, the young guards, helping them learn about the transition from the college game to the NBA game,’’ Dickau said. “There are a ton of adjustments for a young player making that jump.’’
Dickau finished his NBA career with averages of 5.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 300 games (57 starts) with Atlanta, Portland, New Orleans, Dallas, Boston and the L.A. Clippers. A graduate of Gonzaga University, Dickau was selected with the 28th overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft by Atlanta.
Dickau and wife Heather, also a Prairie High School graduate, live in the Battle Ground area with their four children. He is relieved that he and the family won’t be making a move to facilitate the start of his coaching career.
“One of the early concerns of getting into coaching was that our family has not had to move in a couple of years and the kids are situated in school,’’ said Dickau, expressing relief that his family will be staying put.
Since his playing days ended, Dickau has also dabbled in broadcasting, including work broadcasting games of his alma mater, Gonzaga.
“I’ve really enjoyed broadcasting,’’ he said. “But, for myself, it just didn’t have that competitive factor as far as being able to be a part of wins and losses and being on the floor trying to get better every single day.’’
Dickau was scheduled to be inducted into the Prairie High School Hall of Fame at a ceremony Tues., Dec. 13 before the Falcons’ girls game. Dickau was the Washington High School Player of the Year in 1997. He received a full athletic scholarship to the University of Washington, where he helped lead the Huskies to a NCAA Tournament bid his freshmen year. He later transferred to Gonzaga University where he led the Bulldogs to the NCAA tournament his junior and senior year.
