Theo Dean has been hired as the new assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Truman State University. Dean spent four years as a student from 2010-2014 as part of the Truman staff and most recently worked at Lansing (Kan.) High School as an assistant coach.
The Chicago, Illinois native was a part of Amy Eagan’s coaching staff as a Graduate Assistant Coach during the 2013-14 season when the Women’s Basketball team captured the program’s first Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament title, and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999.
Dean will serve as the Recruiting Coordinator and will work primarily with the post players, and assist with practice, game planning, scouting and travel coordination. In addition, Dean organizes the Annual Tip-Off Wine Tasting and aids in graphic design for the program.
Dean spent the 2014-16 seasons as the Boy’s Assistant Basketball Coach for Lansing High School in Lansing, Kansas, being promoted to top Assistant Coach in his second season.
In his first year at Lansing, he helped lead the 2014-15 team to the Substate Championship game. While at Lansing, Dean focused on guard development, assisted in player development for the Girl’s Basketball team and also supervised the team managers, implementing a hustle chart and shot chart system into practices and games. Dean attended several coaching clinics, including the 2015 GKCBCA Clinic, with guest speakers Bill Self (KU) and Drew Diener (Rockhurst University), and also the 2014 & 2015 Fall PGC Glacier Clinic with guest speakers such as Alan Stein (Stronger Team), Tyler Coston (PGC), Jenny Boucek (WNBA Seattle Storm Head Coach) and Rick Torbett (Better Basketball).
Prior to becoming Amy Eagan’s Graduate Assistant Coach in 2013-14, Dean spent 2010-2013 as the Truman Women’s Basketball manager and Graduate Assistant Coach for the Bulldogs. One of Dean’s primary duties was assisting in the development of both the guards and post players. In his first season, forward Jennifer Conway received All-Conference honors for the first time after averaging 8.8 ppg and 6.1 rpg for the season, only posting averages of 4.5 ppg and 3.1 rpg in the prior season. In Dean’s second season with the program, Conway averaged 11.6 ppg and 6.0 rpg.
During Dean’s four year stint with the program as both manager and Graduate Assistant Coach from 2010-2014, the Bulldogs won the GLVC tournament title, tied the school record with 22 overall wins, tied the school record for league wins with 12, had back-to-back 20-win campaigns, won 23 straight home games, and produced 10 All-Conference picks and five Academic All-Conference players.
From 2008-2010, Dean served as the Assistant Coach for the Women’s Club Basketball team. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communications degree from Truman State University in 2012 and his Master’s degree in Leadership, with a concentration in Coaching and Sport Management, from Truman in 2014.
Dean replaces Adam Tandez who was hired as an assistant coach for Division I Northern Illinois University during the spring.
Tagged with: DII GLVC Theo Dean Truman State
