Theo Dean has been promoted to interim head coach of the Truman Women’s Basketball team following the departure of Amy Eagan.
“I want to thank Amy for her dedication to our women’s basketball program the past six years and wish her well in her future endeavors,” said Director of Athletics Jerry Wollmering. “With her recent departure, we are elevating Coach Dean to the interim head coach position. I met with team to inform them of this decision and they are excited and ready to go to work preparing for the 2019-20 season”
Dean has been a part of the program in some capacity for nearly nine years. He was a student manager and graduate assistant from 2010-14, then returned to Kirksville to become the full time assistant prior to the 2016-17 campaign.
He has been on the sideline with the team for four of the program’s six 20-win seasons, including last year’s school record 23 victories and an NCAA at large tournament bid. The Chicago, Illinois native was the graduate assistant for the 2013-14 team that won the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament title and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999.
Since taking over as the full time assistant in 2016, Dean has been the recruiting coordinator and has worked primarily with post players. He coached all-GLVC post Cassidy Clark in 2016-17 and GLVC Freshman of the Year and all-GLVC post Katie Jaseckas in 2017-18.
From 2014-16, Dean assisted the Lansing (Kansas) High School program. Dean focused on guard development for the boys and player development for the girls. He implemented a hustle and shot chart system into practices and games while attending several coaching clinches with notable speakers including Bill Self, Drew Diener, Alan Stein, Tyler Coston, Jenny Boucek and Rick Torbett.
“I am honored to be named the interim head coach for Truman Women’s Basketball,” said Coach Dean. “I would like to thank Jerry Wollmering and President Sue Thomas for their support and for providing me this amazing opportunity. I would also like to thank Coach Eagan for initially having me serve as one of her graduate assistants in 2013 here at Truman and then bringing me back in 2016 as her full-time assistant. Every opportunity she’s given me has helped prepare me for this next step in my coaching career. I look forward to leading this wonderful group of women and helping them accomplish their goals both on and off the court.”
Bulldog alumna Brie Daniels will join Dean on the Truman bench. Daniels is in her second year as a graduate assistant coach and a three-time all-Mid America Intercollegiate Athletics Association player from 2008-12. Dawson Wood will serve as a student assistant coach as well.
Photo Courtesy Truman State Athletics
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