Head Coach David Dean

David Dean

VSU Wins: 22
VSU Losses: 4

Beginning his third season as the Valdosta State head coach, David Dean has quickly shown he knows what it takes to be successful as the top man of an elite program in the NCAA Division II's ranks.

After all, Dean accomplished what very few on any level and in any sport have ever done in their first year as a coach, leading his Blazer squad to the 2007 NCAA Division II national championship. Along the way, Dean's Blazers tallied a 13-1 record, including a 7-1 mark in the always tough Gulf South Conference. The confidence and resolve that Dean instilled in his team helped the Blazers to six second half come-from-behind victories during the year, including an amazing four times in four NCAA playoff games. The year culminated with a 25-20 win over Northwest Missouri State in the national championship game, the school's second national title in four seasons. In directing his team to the national championship, Dean became just the second NCAA Division II coach to win the title in his first year as a head coach, joining North Dakota State's Earl Solomonson as the only coaches to accomplish the feat.

VSU's success on the year also reached to a personal level as Dean's tutelage helped two Blazers ? wide receiver Cedric Jones and safety Sherard Reynolds ? earn first team All-America honors. Additionally, seven Blazers were named to the All-Gulf South Conference squad. Dean also reaped the benefits of his team's success as he was named NCAA Division II Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association, Schutt Sports/American Football Weekly and the Touchdown Club of Atlanta. One of Dean's pupils also saw his football career continue as Maurice Leggett signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. Leggett, who was a standout on Dean's special teams units all four years he wore a Blazer uniform, went on to earn NFL Special Teams Player of the Week honors on one occasion during his rookie season with the Chiefs and was named the Kansas City Rookie of the Year at the conclusion of the 2008 season.

Valdosta State ranked among the nation's leaders in both offense and defense throughout Dean's first season, finishing the season ranked among the top 40 in the nation in an amazing 17 of the 23 categories in which the NCAA ranks the 144 Division II squads, a testament not only to the caliber of players on Dean's squad, but also to the ability of his coaching staff to teach the game of football. The Blazers led the nation in passes intercepted, finishing with 27, while standing second in turnovers gained, fourth in punt return defense, fifth in turnover margin and 10th in net punting.

In addition to his duties as head coach, Dean also served as the team's offensive coordinator during his first season. The results were typical of his time in Valdosta as Valdosta State finished 14th in the nation in scoring offense while standing 35th in total offense and 39th in passing offense.

After losing 14 starters and 23 letterwinners off of his first squad, Dean faced the unenviable task of having to rebuild the VSU team to the high standards that Blazer fans have come to expect. Dean proved he was up for the task as he led Valdosta State to its second playoff appearance in as many years in 2008. His squad tallied a 9-3 overall record and a 6-2 mark in Gulf South Conference action while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Individual honors again rolled in after Dean's second year at the helm of the Blazers as he six Blazers earned All-Gulf South Conference honors, including Sherard Reynolds and Demario Jones on the first team as well as Larry Dean, Albert Dukes, Joey Farmer and Jack Fulford on the second team. Additionally, quarterback Chris Hart became just the third Valdosta State offensive player to earn GSC Freshman of the Year honors as he finished fourth in the league in total offense despite splitting time with senior Tucker Pruitt during the year. Additionally, Reynolds was a consensus choice to the various All-Region teams and was joined by on the Football Gazette All-Region squad by Jones. Reynolds rounded out the individual honors by earning first team All-America honors for the third straight season, just the second Blazer to do so.

The Valdosta State losses from 2007 to 2008 hit Dean's specialty particularly hard as eight of the 14 starters lost between the two seasons came on the offense side of the ball. Regardless of the losses, Dean led the offense to a 48th finish nationally in total offense as Valdosta State averaged 380.8 yards per game on the season. The passing game continued to be among the nation's best as it ranked 44th nationally with a 134.52 efficiency rating and 36th in passing yards per game, at 245.8 an outing.

Dean, 45, became the eighth man to assume the title of head coach at Valdosta State in the program's 26 year history on January 19, 2007. He brought a wealth of knowledge to his new position as he had spent 19 years in the collegiate coaching ranks, including the role of Valdosta State's offensive coordinator from 2000 through 2006.

Dean made an immediate impact on the Blazer football squad during his initial season in Valdosta in 2000 as VSU led the nation in both total offense, at 502.4 yards per game, and in passing offense (377.9) while finishing third in scoring offense, scoring 45.5 points per game. Dusty Bonner was named the Harlon Hill Trophy winner and was one of two VSU offensive players to earn All-America honors. The Blazers capitalized on the offensive success, tallying a 10-2 record while advancing to the second NCAA Regional appearance in school history.

Valdosta State again advanced to the NCAA Regionals in 2001 while finishing fifth in the nation in total offense, with 506.4 yards per game. The Blazer passing game, once again led by Harlon Hill winner Dusty Bonner, ranked sixth nationally at 321.2 yards a game, while VSU averaged 49.4 points an outing, second-best in the nation. Five Blazers on the offensive side of the ball earned All-America honors after the season.

Dean was once again instrumental in the Blazers' success in 2002 as he helped the team reach its first ever National Championship game. That squad rolled to a 14-1 record during the season, its only blemish a 31-24 defeat at the hands of Grand Valley State in the final game of the season. The offense continued to flourish, tallying 398.5 yards a game, good enough for 32nd-best in the nation. With Bonner gone to graduation, Dean groomed current VSU quarterbacks coach Buster Faulkner into an All-Gulf South Conference quarterback while running back Aaron Jenkins earned the school's third straight GSC Offensive Player-of-the-Year honor. Valdosta State was 11th nationally in passing that season, throwing for 277.5 yards a game, and 16th in scoring, at 33.3 points per outing.

The VSU offense ranked 44th nationally in total offense, 14th in passing offense and 31st in scoring offense in 2003 while accumulating a 10-2 mark and its fourth straight trip to the NCAA postseason before reaching its ultimate goal in 2004. That season, Dean helped the squad win the school's first football national championship as he led a unit that was 33rd nationally in total offense at 415.8 yards a game. VSU was 38th nationally in rushing offense that season and 46th in passing offense while finishing the season 26th in scoring offense. VSU's kickoff and punt return units, both of which Dean oversaw, also finished in the top 60 in the nation during the season as Valdosta State rolled off 14 straight victories after dropping the season opener.

The Valdosta State passing offense again ranked among the top in the nation under Dean during the 2005 season, standing 14th at 275.6 yards a game, as well as in scoring (49th / 28.2). The 2006 team returned to the top 20 in total offense, standing 20th at 389.8 yards per game while ranking 89th in rushing, sixth in passing and ninth in scoring. Additionally, the punt return team ranked second in the nation under Dean's direction, tallying 17.3 yards per return.

Overall, 14 Valdosta State offensive players earned All-America honors during Dean's seven seasons as the Blazers' offensive coordinator while 25 times a VSU offensive player was named to the All-Gulf South Conference team, including current wide receiver Cedric Jones, who earned GSC Freshman-of-the-Year in 2006. Additionally, the Blazers set 21 single season team offensive records during Dean's time as offensive coordinator while the special teams unit established five new school records. The Blazers won four Gulf South Conference championships during his tenure as offensive coordinator, tallied a 56-6 league record and advanced to six NCAA postseasons during that span.

Dean's success at grooming offensive players began prior to his arrival at Valdosta State. Prior to his VSU tenure, Dean also served eight years as an assistant coach at West Georgia, the last two of which was spent as the Wolves' offensive coordinator. He joined West Georgia in 1992 as the squad's running backs coach before adding the title of special team's coordinator in 1993. Prior to the 1998 season Dean took over the school's offensive coordinator position as well as the quarterback coaching job. Wolves quarterback Jeremy Clements was named the Gulf South Conference Offensive Player-of-the-Year during Dean's initial season as offensive coordinator, giving the coach four honorees in the five-year stretch from 1998-2002. West Georgia accumulated an 18-5 record during Dean's two seasons as offensive coordinator, including an 8-1 mark and a GSC championship in 1999. Overall, West Georgia compiled a 59-28 record, won two GSC championships and beat Valdosta State seven times, an event that has happened just once in seven game since his migration to Valdosta in 2000, during Dean's eight years with the school.

Dean began his coaching career at Valdosta State in 1988 as he began a four-year stint as wide receivers coach on Mike Cavan's staff. He also served as wide receivers coach at Avondale High School during the 1987 season and spent the 1986 school year as a graduate assistant coach at Georgia Tech. Dean walked on to the Georgia Tech squad in 1982 and earned a scholarship the following season as he played wide receiver for the Yellow Jackets through the 1985 school year.

Dean is a member of the American Football Coaches Association and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is married to the former Stacie Stott, a Valdosta State alumnus, and the couple has three daughters ? Caroline (12), Allison (10) and Natalie, who turned 4 in June.