David Dean

DAVID DEAN YEAR-BY-YEAR

BLAZERS HONORED UNDER DAVID DEAN

DAVID DEAN INSTRUCTIONAL FOOTBALL DVDs

Entering his ninth season as the Valdosta State head coach, David Dean has proven his name belongs among the top in the nation when discussing the best coaches in the NCAA Division II’s ranks.
 
After all, Dean has twice led his team to the pinnacle of the NCAA Division II football world as his squad won national championships in both 2007 and 2012. Additionally, he has led his squad to two more appearances in the NCAA Playoffs and tallied a career record of 70 wins against just 24 losses, a winning percentage of .744.
 
Twice Dean has been named the American Football Coaches Association Division II Coach of the Year, having accomplished the feat in both 2007 and 2012 and received the organization’s Super Region II Coach of the Year honor in 2010. The individual accolades have not been reserved just for Dean during his tenure, as he has had a player receive All-America recognition on 21 occasions while a Blazer has been named All-Gulf South Conference 59 times under his tuteledge.
 
Additionally, 10 Valdosta State Blazers that have played for Dean have gone on to the NFL - cornerback Maurice Leggett in 2008, linebacker Larry Dean in 2011, offensive tackle Ryan Schraeder and cornerback Matt Pierce, offensive guard Edmund Kugbila, who became VSU’s highest draft pick ever when he was selected in the fourth round by the Carolina Panthers, all in 2013 while wide receivers Gerald Ford and Seantavius Jones, linebacker Jeremy Grable, defensive tackle Lawrence Virgil and cornerback Dominique Wheeler all signed contracts in 2014. Leggett, a free agent signee, would go on to earn the Kansas City Rookie of the Year award and was also recognized during the his initial season in the league as the NFL Special Teams Player of the Week while Dean, another free agent signee, impressed the Minnesota Vikings so much with his dedication and work ethic that he was named the team’s Special Teams captain in just his second year in the league and was a finalist for the Pro Bowl as a special teams player.
 
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 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 games. 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.
 
After trips to the playoffs in both 2008 and 2010, Dean once again led his squad to the top of the Division II football world in 2012 as the team capped off a 12-2 season with a 35-7 rout of previously unbeaten Winston-Salem State in the title game. After starting the season at 2-2, Dean’s squad reeled off 10 straight victories to end the season and made Dean just the 10th head coach in NCAA Division II history to win multiple championships during their career.
 
Two Blazers earned All-America honors in 2007 while seven more garnered All-Gulf South Conference honors. Meanwhile, the 2012 squad broke VSU records as nine players garnered All-America recognition while 16 were named to the All-GSC squad. Schraeder, who was a unanimous All-America selection in 2012, also strengthened VSU’s reputation under Dean for producing some of the best talent in the nation as he finished as the runner-up for the Gene Upshaw Award, given annually to the best offensive or defensive lineman in the nation.
 
After losing 14 starters and 23 letterwinners off of his first squad, Dean faced the unenvialbe 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.
 
The losses from 2007 and 2008 manifested themselves in an entirely new Blazer squad in 2009, bringing about new challenges for the third year head coach. Dean faced the challenge of welcoming six new starters on offense and seven on defense to his 2009 team and saw the season start with promise before injuries forced four more starters, and seven players overall, into season-ending injuries. The lack of depth took its toll on the team, but Dean’s will and determination led the squad to a 6-4 record and a third place showing in the Gulf South Conference with a 5-3 record.
 
Personal honors continued to roll in during the trying third season as five Blazers earned All-GSC honors at the conclusion of the season. Meanwhile, wide receiver Gerald Ford become just the fourth VSU player to earn GSC Freshman of the Year honors while senior wide receiver Cedric Jones, who earned first team All-GSC for the third time in his career, became the league’s all-time leader in receptions.
 
The youth of the 2009 season paid off in 2010 as Dean led his school to its sixth Gulf South Conference championship, the first for the Blazers since the 2004 season. The Blazers compiled an 8-3 record on the year and went 6-2 in league play to claim a share of the conference championship. Valdosta State advanced to the NCAA Playoffs for the third time in four years under Dean, who earned Super Region II Coach of the Year honors for his team’s accomplishments.
 
Coach Dean wasn’t the only Blazer to garner recognition on the season as a host of VSU players tallied national, regional and conference honors. Linebacker Larry Dean, who played all four years of his career under David Dean, led the way in the national honors as he became the first Valdosta State player to earn National Defensive Player of the Year honors. Dean also earned All-America honors and was the GSC Defensive Player of the Year as he established a new Valdosta State and GSC record for career tackles, finishing with 368. Stevie Harden also earned All-America status while Jack Fulford garnered All-Region accolades. The trio were also recognized as All-GSC, where they were joined by Dudley Spence, Ronnye Nelson and Demario Jones. The success and accolades weren’t limited to the field as both Spence and Jake Thomas also earned All-Region Academic honors at the conclusion of the year.
Dean led his 2011 team to a 6-4 record, but accolades again were numerous for the Blazers. Eleven Blazers were named All-Gulf South Conference, with six of those also garnering All-Region accolades. Offensive tackle Ryan Schraeder led the group as he also received All-America honors from numerous organizations while offensive guard Edmund Kugbila also was named an All-American.
 
Following the 2012 national championship, Valdosta State again lost a number of starters, including its entire offensive line, heading into the 2013 season, when it posted a 6-4 record. Dean’s tutelage led to five Blazers signing NFL free agent contracts at the end of the season, during which three VSU players were named All-America and 10 garnered All-GSC honors.
 
Dean, 50, 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 (17), Allison (15) and Natalie, who turned 9 in June.