VALDOSTA —
At last, David Dean has addressed the rumors about his possible departure to Kennesaw State, or lack there of one.
After spring practice Thursday, the Valdosta State head coach made it clear that he is exactly that: the Valdosta State head coach.
“I have not interviewed. I have not done anything at Kennesaw State,” Dean said. “It is all rumors. Anytime a job comes open there are always people that say this guy is going to get it or that guy. I can tell you this, I haven't been up there, I haven't been on campus, I haven't talked with the (athletic director).
“I am the coach at Valdosta State. The only thing I am focused on is finishing up spring practice in a positive way.”
Dean was reportedly a candidate to become Kennesaw State's first-ever head football coach, a position expected to be filled in early March, according to KSU athletic officials. The university was granted permission to begin the establishment of a program after a vote by the Board of Regents at a meeting in mid-February.
A two-time Division II Coach of the Year with ties to the Atlanta area — Dean attended Georgia Tech and has family in the area —the possibility of Dean becoming the head coach at Kennesaw State made sense to some, but not to Dean.
“I am the coach at Valdosta State,” Dean reiterated.
The rumors and speculation that Dean might be leaving for Kennesaw State vamped up in recent weeks when it was learned that Co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Earl Chambers was a candidate to become the defensive line coach at Georgia Southern, and after offensive coordinator Robby Brown left for a job at Northwestern State in Louisiana.
Chambers has yet to leave the Blazer program — he was working practice Thursday — and Dean has yet to fill the void of Brown, who also served as the quarterback coach.
As for when he plans on filling those coaching vacancies, Dean said sometime after the Blazers conclude spring practice, which ends March 9 with the playing of the spring game.
“When I can sit down and go through and evaluate and see who we want to get,” Dean said, when asked about filling the position. “With us going through spring practice, we were in good shape right now. I was able to handle the quarterbacks and wide receivers right now and Coach (Sam) Umberg has done a good job handling the receivers right now.”
The coaching shuffling at Valdosta State might not be over, either. Along with Chambers actively pursuing opportunities at other schools, fellow Co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Seth Wallace has also interviewed for other jobs. Wallace has already interviewed at the University of Iowa, a sort of homecoming for the Iowa native.
Graduate assistant and student assistant coaches are on the move, too. Graduate assistant offensive line coach Derrick Elder left the Blazer program Thursday and is headed to New Mexico State, while student assistant Sam Umberg has already accepted a position to become North Gwinnett High School's newest receivers coach, a position he is coaching this spring at VSU.
Overall, Dean said the hardest part of the speculation of coaches leaving takes a toll on the players within the program.
“They never know what is happening,” Dean said. “They don't know what is a rumor and what is not. It kind of gets tiring when you have to tell these guys, ‘Listen, don't listen to all crap. It is not true. We will be honest with you and we will tell you what is going on.’ But they handle it pretty good. They understand the business and they understood when Coach Brown left.”
For more on Valdosta State's spring practice, visit www.valdostadailytimes.com/blazersblog.
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
Valdosta State head coach David Dean said Thursday that he has not interviewed at Kennesaw State University and that he will be the coach of the Blazers in 2013. Ed Hooper
Discussion
Dean confronts rumors
VSU coach addresses Kennesaw State job opening, plans for future
- Local Sports
-
-
Prince Automotive donates new baseball equipment
Prince Automotive of Valdosta is supporting the Valdosta community through its partnership with the Valdosta/Lowndes County Recreation Department. The dealership has joined forces with the national Chevrolet Youth Baseball program to provide new equipment, instructional clinics, and a monetary donation.
-
Needmore holds final races before big Memorial Day weekend
Saturday night racing at Needmore Speedway saw some new faces in victory lane.
That wasn’t the case in the Late Model division, as Valdosta's Gene Ross drove to victory once again, but not without some close competition from Steven Roberts who came in second.
In the Limited Late Model class, it was another win for Cole Exum, with Gene Maine finishing second in the NAPA Auto Parts special. -
VSU softball wins South Region, headed to nationals
For the third time in four years, and second in a row, Valdosta State’s softball team will play in the national championship tournament.
The Blazers won their third South Region championship Saturday, beating Alabama-Huntsville 8-3 in game three of the best-of-three series at Steel’s Diamond at Blazer Park. -
VSU baseball season comes to an end
Delta State scored seven unanswered runs to defeat Valdosta State 7-2 in an elimination game of the NCAA South Region Tournament at the UT Baseball Field Saturday afternoon.
-
Blazers take 1-0 series lead
Angela O’Connor launched a pinch-hit two-run home run over the left-field fence, tying the game against Alabama-Huntsville in the bottom of the sixth inning, and sparking the Blazers and their fans along the way.
-
Blazer baseball stays alive, beats Stillman
Valdosta State scored five runs in the first inning to defeat Stillman 6-2 in an elimination game of the NCAA South Region Tournament at UT Baseball Field Friday morning.
-
Lowndes’ Harwell, Wortham sign with Valdosta State
Lowndes’ Ty Harwell and David Wortham won’t have to go far to play college baseball.
-
Blazers host respected rival UAH in Super Regional
One would expect a matchup featuring two of the top softball programs in Division II to come in the national championship game.
Unfortunately for Valdosta State and Alabama-Huntsville, who have combined to appear in four straight national championship games, they won’t be meeting in title game on Memorial Day in Salem, Va. -
Pop Warner Football coming to Valdosta
Pop Warner Football is coming to Valdosta.
The nationally known organization that puts an emphasis on education and developing American youth has been established in the Valdosta area and will begin playing football this August. -
Blazers lose to Delta State, fall to loser’s bracket
If the Valdosta State baseball team is going to win the South Region Tournament, the Blazers going to have to do it from the loser’s bracket.
The Blazers (33-17) dropped their first game of the tournament Thursday, falling to Delta State 4-2 at UT Baseball Stadium.
VSU will face Stillman College, which lost to No. 1 seed and tournament host Tampa Thursday, Friday at 11 a.m. to advance to the weekend portion of the tournament. The loser will be eliminated. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
