Joe Dean
Encyclopedia
Joe Dean was an All-SEC basketball player for Louisiana State University
from 1950–52 and later became the school's athletic director
, serving in the role from 1987–2000.
, including a stint as the team's captain during his senior year. Following high school, he chose to attend LSU, where he was a member of the LSU basketball
team from 1949 through 1952, earning All-SEC honors three times. He was also a three-time member of the SEC All-Tournament Team, the only player to earn such distinction prior to the tournament's suspension in 1953 (it was later resumed in 1979). In the Spring of 2008, Dean was voted on to the LSU All-Decade Team for the 1950s in an online vote by fans at the school's official website. The next year, he was voted onto the LSU All-Century Team.
Dean was the very first LSU player to be selected in the NBA Draft, taken 10th overall by the Indianapolis Olympians
in the 1952 NBA Draft
. He instead chose to play for the Bartlesville Phillips 66ers of the National Industrial Basketball League
. In the 1956 U.S. Olympic Trials, the 66ers won the tournament and were awarded five players to the U.S. Olympic Team. Dean, despite being fourth on the team in scoring in the tournament, was not one of the five choices. He was subsequently named an alternate to the team. In 1958, he was an NIBL All-Star.
, TBS, ESPN
, TVS
and Jefferson Pilot.
victory over Georgia Tech
being his last official event as athletic director. During his tenure, Dean oversaw arguably the greatest athletic era in school history. The LSU baseball team won five national championships (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000) while the men's and women's track teams accounted for 22 combined, including an unprecedented 11-consecutive NCAA Outdoor Track and Field championships by the women's team. At the time of his retirement, the 27 national championships under Dean's guidance were an SEC record.
The LSU football team
won one SEC Championship (1988), two SEC Western Division Championships (1996, 1997) and four bowl victories (1995, 1996, 1997, 2000) in his 14 years. However, Dean will often be remembered for an 11-year span from 1989–1999 in which the Tigers had eight losing campaigns. He also presided over the downfall of the basketball program, which led to the retirement of legendary head coach Dale Brown
, the SEC's second all-time winningest coach. Dean hired former Samford head coach John Brady to take Brown's place. After inheriting a program on probation, Brady guided LSU to the 2000 SEC Championship and 2006 Final Four before being fired during the 2008 season.
After Dean's 14 years, he was succeeded in 2001 by Skip Bertman.
Dean is a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
, the NABC Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Hall of Fame and the LSU Hall of Fame.
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
from 1950–52 and later became the school's athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
, serving in the role from 1987–2000.
Early life and playing career
A native of New Albany, Ind., Dean was a starter on his high school team at New Albany High SchoolNew Albany High School (Indiana)
Founded in 1853, New Albany High School is one of the oldest public high schools west of the Alleghenies and the first in Indiana. New Albany High School has the first rastafarian-run FM radio station to be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission and has had their own cable TV channel ...
, including a stint as the team's captain during his senior year. Following high school, he chose to attend LSU, where he was a member of the LSU basketball
LSU Tigers basketball
The Louisiana State Tigers basketball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. The team is currently coached by Trent Johnson and has enjoyed recent success, including a Final Four run in the 2005–2006 season. Past coaches include John Brady, Press...
team from 1949 through 1952, earning All-SEC honors three times. He was also a three-time member of the SEC All-Tournament Team, the only player to earn such distinction prior to the tournament's suspension in 1953 (it was later resumed in 1979). In the Spring of 2008, Dean was voted on to the LSU All-Decade Team for the 1950s in an online vote by fans at the school's official website. The next year, he was voted onto the LSU All-Century Team.
Dean was the very first LSU player to be selected in the NBA Draft, taken 10th overall by the Indianapolis Olympians
Indianapolis Olympians
The Indianapolis Olympians were a National Basketball Association team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. They were founded in 1949 and folded in 1953. Their home arena was the Hinkle Fieldhouse.-Franchise history:...
in the 1952 NBA Draft
1952 NBA Draft
The 1952 NBA Draft was the sixth annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 26, 1952 before the 1952–53 season. In this draft, ten remaining NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players...
. He instead chose to play for the Bartlesville Phillips 66ers of the National Industrial Basketball League
National Industrial Basketball League
The National Industrial Basketball League was founded in 1947, to enable mill workers a chance to compete in basketball. The league was founded out of the teams that did not join the newly formed NBA...
. In the 1956 U.S. Olympic Trials, the 66ers won the tournament and were awarded five players to the U.S. Olympic Team. Dean, despite being fourth on the team in scoring in the tournament, was not one of the five choices. He was subsequently named an alternate to the team. In 1958, he was an NIBL All-Star.
Dixie Basketball Camp
In 1966, Dean began a basketball camp just outside of Baton Rouge, La., at Lake Side Oaks. Later, in 1974, he moved the camp to Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit, Miss., where the camp has been held each July ever since. It is believed to be the longest running basketball camp in the United States.Broadcasting career
Dean is most famous for his work as a color analyst for Southeastern Conference basketball games, which he covered for nearly 20 years. He coined the phrase "String Music" and is also known for other phrases such as, "Stufferino in Lexington, KY." During his run, he worked with NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, TBS, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, TVS
TVS
-Television, Tele-Networking:* TVS Electronics, Computer peripherals manufacturing company from India* TVS Motors, motor manufacturing company from India* TVS, aka Television Sydney, free TV channel in Sydney, Australia...
and Jefferson Pilot.
As athletic director at LSU
Dean gave up announcing in April 1987, when he took over the athletic director post at his alma mater, LSU. He served from April 1987 through the end of the 2000 calendar year, with the LSU's 2000 Peach Bowl2000 Peach Bowl
The 2001 edition to the Peach Bowl featured the , and the LSU Tigers.LSU scored first on a 32 yard John Corbello field goal to take a 3-0 lead. Georgia Tech responded with a 32 yard Joe Burns touchdown run to take a 7-3 lead...
victory over Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
being his last official event as athletic director. During his tenure, Dean oversaw arguably the greatest athletic era in school history. The LSU baseball team won five national championships (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000) while the men's and women's track teams accounted for 22 combined, including an unprecedented 11-consecutive NCAA Outdoor Track and Field championships by the women's team. At the time of his retirement, the 27 national championships under Dean's guidance were an SEC record.
The LSU football team
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
won one SEC Championship (1988), two SEC Western Division Championships (1996, 1997) and four bowl victories (1995, 1996, 1997, 2000) in his 14 years. However, Dean will often be remembered for an 11-year span from 1989–1999 in which the Tigers had eight losing campaigns. He also presided over the downfall of the basketball program, which led to the retirement of legendary head coach Dale Brown
Dale Brown (basketball)
Dale Duward Brown is an American former college basketball coach who spent 25 years leading the LSU Tigers. His team earned Final Four appearances in 1981 and 1986. He is also remembered as one of the most vocal critics of the NCAA because he said it legislated against human dignity.-Life in...
, the SEC's second all-time winningest coach. Dean hired former Samford head coach John Brady to take Brown's place. After inheriting a program on probation, Brady guided LSU to the 2000 SEC Championship and 2006 Final Four before being fired during the 2008 season.
After Dean's 14 years, he was succeeded in 2001 by Skip Bertman.
Awards and honors
In the Summer of 2007, Dean was named the 18th most influential person in the history of the SEC by the Birmingham News. He was also chosen as one of the top voices in the history of the conference, placing seventh according to the Birmingham News. The lists were created in honor of the league's 75th Anniversary.Dean is a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame is a sports museum and hall of fame in New Castle, Indiana. It honors men and women associated with high school, college and professional basketball in Indiana....
, the NABC Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Hall of Fame and the LSU Hall of Fame.