Tournament Director Wade Vickery coached varsity boys and girls basketball at Santana High School. In 5 years he had a 74-48 record with the boys and in his 26 seasons with the girls, he compiled a record of 610-119, with 19 league championships and 9 CIF-San Diego Section titles. He had the honor of coaching the West to a 4 point victory over the East in the 2006 McDonalds All American game. He was inducted into the California Coaches Association Hall of Fame in June of 2015.
 
Coach Vickery started this girls basketball tournament in 1987 with only 8 teams. The 2019 San Diego Classic had 88 teams from 5 different states.