Kimberly Dean was tabbed the head coach of the University of the Incarnate Word softball program in July of 2021.She is headed into her fourth year leading the program.
In her first season as head coach the Cards earned the fifth seed in the SLC Tournament, but dropped the first two games. In the following year UIW missed the tournament before bouncing back in her third year with a 15-8 conference record. This time the Cardinals earned the four seed in the tournament. A coach Dean led team knocked off the number one seed McNeese Cowboys to advance to the final series, before falling to Southeastern Louisiana.
In 2024, under coach Dean, the Cardinals had their best single season record in Division I history at 34-17. Along with this, she coached the Cards to two first team and three second team all-conference selections and the SLC Player of the Year and all-region selections.
A 12-year coaching veteran, Dean spent the past four seasons as the head coach of the Georgia Southern Softball (GSU) program. In the 2021 season, Dean secured her 100th career collegiate head coach victory, improving her overall record to 103-77. Dean lead GSU to three Sun Belt Conference Tournament Qualifier appearances in her four years. In addition, under Dean the GSU softball program led the nation in community service hours in 2018, 2020, and 2021.
Prior to Georgia Southern, Dean served as the head coach for the Armstrong State University (ASU) Softball program. At ASU, Dean and her staff received the Coaching Staff of the Year award in 2017. In that year, they appeared in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, the Southeast Regional Tournament, and the National Semifinals. Dean’s coaching career started at the University of Southern Indiana (USI), as the assistant coach for the Screaming Eagles from 2009-2016. During her seven years with USI, Dean helped led the team to four conference tournaments, three regional tournaments and an overall record of 209-167. While at USI, Dean assisted in all aspects of recruiting, practice planning and execution, scouting reports, and pitch calling. Dean also monitored the academics of a Southern Indiana program that featured 56 academic all-conference honorees, four CoSIDA Academic All-District honorees and two CoSIDA Academic All-America honorees.
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA (2009-16)
In 2009, Dean joined the Division II program at Southern Indiana to help in many aspects of the sport. As an assistant coach her activities included helping out with recruiting, complying list to for pitching and hitting charts, and helping in the formation of practice plans. In addition to her duties, Dean was in charge of monitoring the academic progress of the student- athletes. In 2012 and 2014 she was so successful she lead the team to achieve the highest grade point average in the athletic department.
In the seven years with the program she held an overall record of 209-167. This includes four trips to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament and three trips to the Midwest Regional Tournament.
AT ARMSTRONG STATE UNIVERSITY (2016-17)
Prior to her time at Georgia Southern, Dean spent a year at Division II, Armstrong State in Savannah, Georgia. As the Head Coach of the program she led the program to an overall record of 38-14.
During that year Dean led the team to become National Semifinalist. After qualifying for the Peach Belt Conference Tournament and winning the Southeast Regional Tournament the team had a historic year. In making history, Dean coached the Peach Belt Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Three of her members were named to the all- conference first team and three more were named to the all- conference second team. Dean and her staff were named the Coaching Staff of the Year in the Southeast Region.
AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN (2017-21)
As the Head Coach at Georgia Southern Dean managed all day to day operations within the program After leaving in 2021, she finished with an overall record of 82-89. While with the Eagles she became the chair of Student Conduct and the school’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. In addition to her roles, she took on the role of being the Director of the Booster Club and Community Engagement. In 2018, 2020, and 2021 Dean had Georgia Southern lead the nation in community service hours.
While competing in the Sun Belt Conference, Dean led the team to the conference tournament three times. During their first trip to the tournament in 2018, the Eagles recorded the fastest time to 10 wins in school history. They also broke the record for most home runs in a season (49) and total RPI’s with 85.
Dean coached many players to collect accolades during her time at Georgia Southern. Some of the many were a player named to the NFCA All- South Region, three players to the Sun Belt All- Conference teams, and a COSIDA Academic All- District member.
PLAYING DAYS
During her time as a student- athlete at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, she was a two-time All- GLVC honoree and twice lead the team in batting average. After completing her four-year softball career, Dean spent one season as a student-assistant for the Rangers. PERSONALDean graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in Coaching in 2006 from University of Wisconsin- Parkside. In 2021 she went on to obtain a Master of Public Adminstration from the University of Southern Indiana.
COACH DEAN'S FILE
Alma Mater: University of Wisconsin- Parkside (2006); Southern Indiana (2021)
UIW Record: 15-35
2021-present: University of the Incarnate Word
2017-21: Georgia Southern Head Coach
2016-18: Armstrong State Head Coach
2009-16: University of Southern Indiana Assistant Coach
