Weber State University Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Former Weber State track and field standout Dan Dean is in his fifth season as an assistant coach with the WSU men’s and women’s track and field teams. Dean specifically works with the Wildcat sprinters and hurdlers.
Dean ran for the Wildcats from 1971-76 during the early years of Chick Hislop’s coaching reign. Although he regular ran both the mile and 880 yard run, his greatest success came in the 880. He was the 1973 and 1975 Big Sky Conference champion in the event. In 1975, he earned All-American honors. His career best time of 1:46.8 (converted to the current 800 meter time) still stands as the Weber State school record, and stood as the Big Sky Conference record for 31 years until it was surpassed in 2006 by NAU’s Lopez Lomong. In 1992, Dean was inducted into the Weber State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Dean came to Weber State after a long career as a high school track and field coach. He coached at Ben Lomond High School in Ogden for 26 years. During that span the Scots earned five state championships, three second places finishes and 11 region championships. Dean was honored by Ben Lomond HS, naming their new track and field venue “The Dan Dean Track”. He also coached cross country at Ben Lomond. He had one state championship team, two second place finishes and six region championships. In 1998, he was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame as a “Distinguished Coach”.
In 2004, Dean brought his coaching talents to Bonneville High School. He served as an assistant coach for three seasons before becoming head coach in 2006-2007. While at Bonneville, he was able to coach his daughter, Ally, to Utah’s all-time best mark in the girls 300 meter hurdles at 42.42. Ally went on to become a standout with the WSU women’s track and field teams.
Dean graduated from Evanston High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Weber State in 1976 and his master’s in Physical Education from Utah State in 1992. He and his wife, Charla, have been married for 39 years. They are the parents of two sons, Greg and Daren and daughter Ally.
