Rhodes College Athletics

Matt Dean enters his 35th year at Rhodes College and returns to the bench to assist the Women’s Basketball program. Over his distinguished career, this marks his 12th different job title at the college.

During his 35 years at Rhodes, Dean served as head women’s basketball coach for 15 seasons, becoming the program’s winningest coach with a 230-166 record. His teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament three straight years (2012-2015). Dean retired as head coach after the 2017 season to become assistant athletics director before being promoted to Director of Athletics from 2018 to 2020.

As Director of Athletics, Dean led the department to back-to-back Commissioner’s Cups in 2018 and 2019, recognizing the top overall athletic program in the Southern Athletic Association. In those two seasons, Rhodes finished 57th and 64th, respectively, in the Learfield Cup Standings, which rank the nation’s best overall Division III athletic programs.

In the 1990s, Dean spent nine seasons as an assistant coach for the men’s basketball program, helping the team compile a 152-74 record and reach the 1993 NCAA Tournament. Overall, he holds a combined 382-240 record in men’s and women’s basketball at Rhodes, a .614 winning percentage. He has coached in eight NCAA Tournament games, advancing to the second round on three occasions.

Dean’s career also includes serving as head coach of the women’s golf program, earning SCAC Coach of the Year honors in 1996, and becoming the college’s first head field hockey coach, leading his 2001 team to a conference tournament title.

Dean received the college’s Outstanding Administrator Award in 2014 for his leadership and impact on Rhodes Athletics. His nominators praised his ability to build successful teams, motivate athletes, and foster positive relationships across the department.

A native of Davenport, Iowa, Dean graduated from Drake University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast News Journalism and earned his Master of Science in Higher Education Administration in 1991 while serving as a graduate assistant. He has also served on the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Regional Advisory Committee and the WBCA All-American Committee, in addition to being a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches for 24 years.

Throughout his career, Dean has been named Conference Coach of the Year three times and has coached six of the top nine all-time scorers in program history, four All-Americans, and several record-setting players.

Dean and his wife, Julie, also a Drake graduate, have been married for 33 years and have two sons, Tyler (30) and Ryan (26).