Dean coached wide receivers at his alma mater, Avondale High School, in 1987. He was an assistant at Valdosta from 1988 to 1992. From 1993 to 1999 he was an assistant at University of West Georgia. From 2000 to 2006 he was offensive coordinator for Valdosta. In his first season in 2000 his quarterback Dusty Bonner won the Harlon Hill Trophy. During this period Valdosta played in the Division II title game in 2002 and won the national championship in 2004.
