• Golden Bears Soccer head coach (1985-2019)
• Seven-time Canada West Champion (1988, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2016)
• Three-time National Champion (2003, 2006, 2016)
• Four-time Canada West Coach of the Year (1993, 2006, 2010, 2016)
• 2006 CIS Coach of the Year
• Eight-time national championship medalist (3 G, 4 S, 1 B)
• 307 overall wins are the 8th most in school history. 238 conference wins are 7th most. 
• Head coach of 2003 Canadian FISU Men's Soccer Team

One of the biggest reasons for the continued success Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics has sustained for over 100 years is the strength of their head coaches. 

They are recruiters, talent evaluators, mentors and role models. They are culture builders and leaders. They are able to extract the best out of their student-athletes – both academically and athletically. There are few coaches who embody these values and attributes quite like Len Vickery. 

For all the iconic coaches who have served extended tenures at the University of Alberta, Vickery holds the distinction of being the longest-tenured head coach in school history. His accolades speak for themselves; 34 years, 307 wins, seven Canada West Championship, and three national titles. 

His 307 wins are the 8th most in school history, with soccer’s limited schedule during Vickery’s tenure – often two to three times as few games as basketball, hockey and volleyball – making that stat all the more remarkable. 

Born in England, Vickery attended university at Dalhousie where he helped the Tigers capture silver at the 1976 national championship, and Atlantic Conference (AUS) Championships in ‘76 and ‘77. After graduating, he moved to Calgary in 1980 to work with the Alberta Soccer Association’s player and coaching development programs. His first season with the Golden Bears was 1985.

From 1985 to 2001, Vickery led the Golden Bears to four Canada West titles and four national silver medals, doing so as a part-time head coach. A Canada West title in 1988 brought the Golden Bears back into the upper echelon of the conference, which saw the team never finish below fourth until 2001. 

From 1994 to 1999, the Bears announced their presence as national contenders, adding three more CW banners, to go along with runner-up finishes at the CIAU Championship in ‘94, ‘95, ‘98, and ‘99. 

In 2001, Vickery was hired full-time with the Department of Athletics to provide overall leadership and direction to the Golden Bears soccer program and to develop player development programs of the highest caliber for the benefit of local youth players – the Green and Gold Soccer Academy

Having established themselves as the class of the conference through the first half of Vickery’s tenure, the Bears breakthrough on the national stage came in 2003. 

After defeating Trinity Western in the CW Final in Saskatoon, Alberta booked a spot in the national final in Montreal thanks to a 2-0 win over Concordia, and a 1-1 draw with Western. A double-overtime goal from John Castrillon secured a 2-1 Bears win over Saint Mary’s, and the program’s first national title since 1979. 

The Bears returned to the peak of university men’s soccer just three years later, capturing gold at the 2006 CIS Championship on home soil. After a disappointing Final Four at Foote Field in which the Bears placed fourth, the Bears exacted some revenge the following week, defeating Western, Laval, and TWU in Edmonton to secure a third national title. 

While his on-field accomplishments speak for themselves, Vickery also cared deeply about his current and former student-athletes, pushing them to be leaders in their respective communities and ambassadors for the University of Alberta. 

“Len’s relationship with his players is one for all coaches to model. In particular, the longstanding relationships with the Golden Bears he keeps long past their university graduation,” said Sean Fleming, the former Academy Technical Director for FC Edmonton and Canadian National Team Staff member. “He not only developed the players during their soccer careers, but more importantly developed players to become positive and contributing citizens.” 

Alongside his success guiding the Golden Bears across three decades, Vickery was also the Director of the National and Alberta joint High Performance Centre from 1985-2000, was the head coach of the Canadian U17 Women’s team in 2000, and was the head coach of the Canadian Men’s FISU team in 2003 in South Korea. 

He sought after players who wanted to improve, and had the drive to get better as athletes and people. Vickery had a knack for knowing which buttons to push and how to get the most out of his athletes. He built strong foundations with both the Golden Bears and Alberta Soccer that have and will pave the way for future success. 

“Len’s accomplishments while simultaneously growing the sport of soccer in Alberta is quite remarkable. Len is highly respected across the province as a leader and mentor, who has shaped our sport to the benefit of many of our 95,000+ members,” said Shaun Lowther, the former Executive Director of Alberta Soccer Association, and Canadian National team and Vancouver Whitecaps player. “His dedication to players and fellow coaches is to be commended.”

Capping off his remarkable career, Vickery guided arguably his best roster to both a Canada West and U SPORTS title in 2016, finishing the season with a sparkling 20-1-2 record. 

Vickery is the second Golden Bears Soccer coach to be inducted into the UofA Sports Hall of Fame, joining the late Stu Robbins.