Oct 21, 2021
This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring West Georgia Head Coach, David Dean. Coach Dean shares why he loves coaching in the state of Georgia, highlights how he builds a positive team culture within his program, and shares his personal experience with the AFCA.
David Dean is currently in his fifth season as the Head Coach of WGU, returning to a program where he was part of two Gulf South Conference championships and three trips to the NCAA Playoffs as an assistant in the 1990s. Since returning back to the WGU sidelines, Coach Dean has continued the programs success as and has lead the Wolves to multiple Division II playoff appearances while producing numerous All-Americans. In the second week of the season in 2019, Coach Dean rewrote history, becoming the third coach in Gulf South Conference history with 100 wins
Prior to arriving to West Georgia, Coach Dean spent 16 years coaching at Valdosta Sate including 9 years as the Head Coach. During his time at Valdosta State, Coach Dean won two Division II national championships while leading one of the best programs in the country during that time. The success of Dean’s Valdosta State program resulted in numerous individual plaudits. He captured American Football Coaches Association Division II Coach of the Year honors following both national titles. He was also named 2007 Coach of the Year by Schutt Sports, AFCA Regional Coach of the Year, and GSC Coach of the Year in 2010.
- [1:48] Start of Interview
- [2:02] Coaching in the state of Georgia
- [3:44] Building culture in a program
- [6:55] Preparing for a big matchup
- [9:09] Challenges of coaching at historically strong programs
- [11:36] Personal connection with the FCA
- [14:15] Camaraderie within the AFCA
- [15:30] Value of the AFCA annual convention