Rutgers-Camden community mourns passing of long-time AD Dean
CAMDEN, N.J. (Jan. 24, 2024) – Rutgers University-Camden and the New Jersey Athletic Conference have lost a cherished friend and tireless colleague as long-time Director of Athletics and Recreational Services Jeffrey L. Dean passed away at his home early Tuesday morning.
Dean, who served in numerous capacities since coming to Rutgers-Camden in 1993, was 58.
Services
A native of Charlottesville, Virginia, Dean was a four-year letterman at Bridgewater College in Virginia. He earned First Team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference honors as a pitcher in 1986 and received his B.S. in Health and Physical Education from Bridgewater in 1987. He served as an assistant baseball coach for two seasons at Bridgewater before moving to Salisbury State in 1989.
Dean served as an assistant baseball coach at Salisbury State from 1989-1993 and received his Master of Education degree in Educational Administration from that school in 1991.
Dean joined the Rutgers-Camden coaching staff in September 1993 when he was named the head baseball coach, succeeding Jack Hopkins. He served as the baseball coach from 1994-98, compiling a 59-101-3 record, including back-to-back 15 win seasons in 1995 and 1996, the most victories at the school since 1988. His 15-15 season in 1996 was the best baseball record at Rutgers-Camden since the 1988 team went 18-16.
Dean added another responsibility in 1995 when he accepted a 10-month assignment as Coordinator of Intramurals and Recreational Services, taking over program development and implementation. With the program's expansion and facility development, he accepted an administrative promotion to a full-time, 12-month Coordinator of Intramurals and Recreational Services in June 1998. He stepped down as the baseball coach to devote his full attention to developing the intramural and recreation programs.
He was promoted to Assistant Director of Recreational Services in 1999. In addition to running the recreational and intramural programs at Rutgers-Camden, Dean's responsibilities included scheduling and maintenance of the Scarlet Raptors' athletic facilities and numerous other aspects with the Scarlet Raptors' rising Division III athletic program.
When Athletic Director Edward Cialella retired on December 31, 2002, Dean was named the interim athletic director. He officially was named the Director of Athletics and Recreational Services in April, 2003, becoming the fifth athletic director at Rutgers-Camden. He followed in the footsteps of Al Carino, Neil Haldeman, Pony Wilson and Cialella.
Fiercely loyal, supportive and proud of his student-athletes, staff and the Rutgers-Camden community, Dean took over an athletic department featuring 12 intercollegiate varsity programs, as well as a variety of club and recreational services. Since that time the department has added men's and women's teams for indoor track and reinstated long-dormant teams for men's and women's tennis.
Under Dean's watch as the interim AD, Rutgers-Camden captured the school's first NJAC title in 2003 when the women's basketball team won the conference tournament, advanced to the NCAA Championships and won the first NCAA tournament game in school history. His tenure as AD saw several other NJAC championships, including the 2006 softball team that won the NCAA championship and the 2013 men's soccer team, which advanced all the way to the NCAA title game. His student-athletes also captured numerous All-American and Academic All-American honors, including two men who won a pair of national championships apiece in track, Tim VanLiew (javelin) and Jude Misko (hammer).
Dean spearheaded the initiative to start an Athletic Hall of Fame at Rutgers-Camden. The first class in 2005 featured six individuals and one team. Dean was instrumental in securing the baseball program a new home with the opening of the Camden Athletic Complex in 2022.
In addition to guiding the Rutgers-Camden Athletic Department, Dean played a leading role in the NJAC, serving on the NJAC Membership Committee and as the NJAC Baseball Chair.
A resident of Haddon Heights, Dean is survived by his wife Kate and sons Jack, Andrew and Jeffrey.
