Andrew Dickson joined the Columbus Blue Jackets organization as an amateur scout prior to the 2008-09 season after spending nine years as an assistant coach at Colgate University, where his primary responsibilities included working with the forwards and playing a major role in the program's recruiting efforts. During his tenure at Colgate, he helped the Raiders to two NCAA tournament appearances, ECAC Hockey regular season titles in 2004 and 2006 and three straight 20-win seasons for the first time in school history.

Dickson played four seasons at Colgate from 1989-93, serving as team captain and leading the club in scoring as a senior in 1992-93 with 15-28-43 in 34 games. He was also a key member of the 1989-90 team that won the ECAC regular-season and tournament championships and advanced to the NCAA championship game.

He played professional hockey from 1993 to 1999 in several leagues throughout the world, including stints in England and Germany. He then began his coaching career in 1999 at Colgate, where he received a bachelor's degree in economics in 1993. He and his wife, Alison, are the parents of sons, Brock and Shea.