Michigan State head women’s basketball coach Suzy Merchant announced Wednesday the hiring of Dean Lockwood as associate head coach. Lockwood comes to East Lansing with an extensive knowledge of basketball in the state of Michigan.
He spent the last 15 seasons as an assistant coach at Tennessee. Overall, he spent 20 years working with both the Tennessee men and women’s programs.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have Dean join our Spartan family. He is a person of high character, integrity and passion for the game of basketball. He has spent the last 15 years coaching at one of the most storied women’s basketball programs in the country and worked for one of the best to ever coach our game in Pat Summit. Beyond the back-to-back National Championships, Dean is a tremendous teacher of the game as he has developed dozens of WNBA draft picks,” Merchant said. “In addition, his past experience as a former head coach was something that is truly valuable and will help make an immediate impact in our program. Not to mention, he is also a Michigan native that appreciates what being a Spartan is all about. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome him to the great Spartan Nation.”
Lockwood replaces Amaka Agugua-Hamilton who was named head coach at Missouri State last week.
“It is at once an honor and a thrill to be joining the women’s basketball staff at Michigan State University. Being born and raised in Michigan, MSU has always held a very special place in my heart. The respect I have for this university and Spartan athletics is tremendous,” Lockwood said. “I am excited to become a part of Coach Merchant’s staff. I am extremely thankful for the opportunity she has presented to me, and I will strive to earn it every day. Throughout my 37 years coaching college basketball it has always been a high priority for me to be around great people, in a great environment where excellence is pursued daily. I believe I am once again going into exactly that type of situation here at MSU. I look forward to working with Coach Merchant, our staff and our team to continue to move this program forward. My passion for serving is as strong as ever, and I am very excited to begin a new journey as a Spartan.”
At Tennessee, he was part of two National Championships in 2007 and 2008, as well as three Final Four appearances. Overall the Lady Vols, won five Southeastern Conference regular-season titles and seven SEC Tournament crowns. Five of Lockwood’s pupils at Tennessee have developed into first-round picks in the WNBA Draft, including 2016 WNBA Finals MVP, 2013 WNBA MVP and WNBA All-Star Game MVP Candace Parker. Serving as the post position coach at Tennessee, Lockwood had 13 front court players drafted in his 15-year tenure. Overall, the Lady Vols had 26 players drafted during his stay in Knoxville.
Prior to working with the Lady Vols, Lockwood was the head men’s coach at Saginaw Valley State from 1998-04. Lockwood was also head men’s basketball coach at Northwood University from 1991-97, earning GLIAC Coach of the Year honors in 1997.
From 1986-1991, Lockwood served as an assistant for the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team under head coach Don DeVoe and later Wade Houston. During his tenure as an assistant, Volunteer teams went 77-75, posting three consecutive winning seasons, made a pair of National Invitational Tournament trips and had an NCAA Tournament bid in 1989 after an 18-9 regular season.
Lockwood’s first full-time coaching position was as men’s assistant coach at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point from 1983-86. In 1984-85, he helped Army to its best record and only winning season since 1978. Lockwood cut his teeth in the coaching profession as a men’s graduate assistant at Central Michigan in 1982-83.
He has served as the summer camp director at Saginaw Valley State, Northwood and West Point, as well. For 12 summers Lockwood directed very successful shooting and offensive moves camps in Michigan. In previous summers, Lockwood has also spent time observing at Pete Newell’s Big Man Camp.
“On a personal level, returning to the East Lansing area is very special. My dad grew up in Lansing and my grandparents and cousins lived here. I have wonderful memories from earlier days in my life here. Coach Izzo has been a friend for many years, and I’ve known MSU men’s basketball assistant coaches Mike Garland, Dwayne Stephens and Doug Wojcik through coaching circles for a long time as well. My mom and brother are down the road in Bay City, so returning to Michigan now is a blessing, but wearing Spartan green will be brand new, and I could not be happier about coming to MSU to serve,” Lockwood added.
As a collegiate player, Lockwood was a four-year letterwinner at Spring Arbor College (Mich.), a three-year starter at point guard, and was also a captain for two seasons. He helped lead the squad to a single-season school record in wins.
Lockwood earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Spring Arbor in 1982, majoring in English and secondary education. He earned a master’s degree in counseling and personal and student development from Central Michigan in 1989.
On Oct. 19, 2008, Lockwood was inducted into the Bay County (Mich.) Sports Hall of Fame for his career accomplishments. He also was inducted into the Spring Arbor (Mich.) Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 8, 2010.
