Alumni Spotlight: Derick VandeBossche ’22

Growing up in Lusk, Wyoming, Derick VandeBossche was surrounded by athletics. Both of his parents were deeply involved in sports, with his mother coaching multiple sports and his father serving as athletic director and head football coach. Alongside his brother, he spent his childhood immersed in games and practices that shaped his personal and professional life.

Today, VandeBossche lives in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, with his wife, Gabbi, and their dog, Winston. Gabbi owns a salon, while he works at Black Hills State University in Spearfish. In their free time, they enjoy hiking, exploring the hills, golfing, and traveling.

VandeBossche chose Dickinson State University largely to play alongside his brother, who was already a member of the Blue Hawk football team. He was also drawn to the program’s close-knit atmosphere and the leadership of Coach Aric Mines and Coach Stanton.

After his time as a student-athlete, VandeBossche spent four years coaching football at DSU, where he learned that effective leadership is built on trust and accountability. He observed that coaching, like being an athlete, requires discipline and responsibility, along with the ability to build trust with players. These lessons continue to shape his leadership approach today.

His career path eventually led him to his current role as assistant athletic director at Black Hills State University. In this position, VandeBossche oversees NCAA and institutional compliance, game day operations, and other daily responsibilities. “I am excited about this position because every day is different and there are alway s new challenges to face. I hope to make an impact by helping the student athletes and coaches become the best versions of themselves.”

VandeBossche credited DSU’s athletic leadership master’s program with preparing him for his administrative career. “We learned about vital information on being an administrator and leading athletic programs. This program helped in a few different ways, but one of the biggest impacts was Coach Stanton. I was able to spend a lot of time with Coach Stanton and saw what it really meant to be a leader. I also must give thanks to my dad; he helped show me the ropes, and I am thankful to have such great mentors.”

Now at Black Hills State, VandeBossche focuses on helping student-athletes and coaches grow while putting the lessons he learned at DSU into action every day.

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Written by Alician Parks – DSU HF Student Writer