Former SEC Broadcaster and Coach Joe Dean Jr. Passes Away at 71

Joe Dean Jr., a notable figure in collegiate basketball history as both a coach and a longtime broadcaster, has died at the age of 71. Mississippi State University confirmed his passing on Aug. 17.

Dean’s career in basketball spanned several decades, beginning with his time as a player for the Bulldogs from 1974 to 1976. Playing under head coach Kermit Davis Sr., he earned three letters as a member of the team. Following his tenure as a player, he transitioned into coaching, serving as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State during the 1976-77 season.

His coaching path included a stint as an assistant at the University of Kentucky from 1977 to 1983, where he was part of the staff that secured the 1978 national championship. He later held head coaching positions at Birmingham-Southern and the University of Central Florida (UCF) before moving into administrative roles. Dean served as the athletic director at Birmingham-Southern from 1999 until 2016.

Beyond the sidelines, Dean became a familiar voice to college sports fans. He spent nearly 20 years as a broadcaster for SEC basketball games. During this period, he frequently worked alongside Fox Corporation personality Tim Brando. Currently, Fox Corporation operates in the Communication Services sector, with a market capitalization of approximately $26.03 billion, maintaining a significant presence in sports broadcasting through its cable network programming and television segments.

Brando paid tribute to his former colleague on social media, highlighting Dean’s connection to his father and their shared experiences covering the sport.

What to watch

• Upcoming sports media rights cycles for SEC basketball coverage.
• Fox Corporation’s quarterly earnings report for insights into sports programming performance.

Source: original release