Michael Blake Dean (born February 25, 1988) is a former professional baseball player who is currently the head coach of the New Orleans Privateers baseball program.

Blake Dean
Dean with the Great Lakes Loons in 2011
Current position
TitleHead Coach
TeamNew Orleans
ConferenceSouthland
Record256–220–1 (.538)
Biographical details
Born (1988-02-25) February 25, 1988 (age 36)
Fort Walton Beach, Florida, U.S.
Playing career
2007–2010LSU
2010Ogden Raptors
2011Great Lakes Loons
Position(s)Baseman
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2012–2015New Orleans (AHC)
2016New Orleans (Interim HC)
2016–presentNew Orleans
Head coaching record
Overall256–220–1 (.538)
TournamentsSLC: 13–14
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
Player
  • Baseball America First-Team All-American (2008)
  • Baseball America Pre-Season Second-Team All-American (2009)
  • Rivals.com First-Team All-American (2009)

Playing career

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Dean played collegiately at Louisiana State University (LSU). He was one of LSU's leading hitters and was named MVP of the 2008 SEC baseball tournament. He has also received many other freshman awards, such as 2007 Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American; 2007 Freshman All-SEC; 2007 Louisiana Freshman of the Year; SEC Freshman of the Week (May 7, 2007 and April 16, 2007).[1][2]

Blake Dean tried out as a pitcher, coming out of high school. He was on the verge of getting cut, because he lacked velocity. He was quickly converted to a first baseman, after his coach saw him hit batting practice. He started all four years at first base and was one of the best power hitters in LSU baseball history.[3] In 2007, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and was selected to participate in the league's All-Star Home Run Derby.[4][5]

In 2008 while helping lead his team to the 2008 College World Series, Dean was named a Baseball America First-Team All-American.[6] In 2009 Dean was given another All-America selection as he was named to the pre-Season All-America team by Baseball America (2nd team) and Rivals.com (1st team).[7] In 2010 Dean was a candidate for the Lowe's Senior Class Award.[8]

He was drafted in the tenth round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft in the summer of 2009 by the Minnesota Twins, but did not sign.[9] He then was drafted in the eighth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010. He spent two years in the Dodgers' farm system, one with the Ogden Raptors and one with the Great Lakes Loons.

Coaching career

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Dean became an assistant for the New Orleans Privateers baseball team after retiring from professional play.[10]

After three seasons as an assistant, Dean was named the interim head coach heading into the 2016 season[11] and, soon after, named permanent head coach.[12]

Statistics

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Year Age Team Conf G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB SH SF IBB HBP GDP
2007 19 LSU SEC 56 206 30 65 12 3 7 46 1 1 20 25 .316 .366 .505 .871 104 0 8 1 2
2008 20 LSU SEC 67 269 62 95 18 3 20 73 4 2 35 46 .353 .432 .665 1.097 179 0 2 4 5
2009 21 LSU SEC 72 259 67 85 18 0 17 71 4 2 50 37 .328 .432 .595 1.027 154 0 10 5 7
Totals: 195 734 159 245 48 6 44 190 9 5 105 108 .332 .410 .588 .998 437 0 20 10 11

Roll over stat abbreviations for definitions. Stats through June 25, 2009.

References:[13][14][15]

Head coaching record

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Below is a table of Dean's yearly records as an NCAA head baseball coach.

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
New Orleans Privateers (Southland Conference) (2016–present)
2016 New Orleans 31–26 14–16 T–7th Southland Tournament
2017 New Orleans 30–28–1 16–14 T–7th Southland Tournament
2018 New Orleans 29–32 14–16 T–7th Southland Tournament
2019 New Orleans 29–27 13–17 T–9th
2020 New Orleans 11–6 2–1 T–2nd Season canceled due to COVID-19
2021 New Orleans 29–28 23–17 2nd Southland Tournament
2022 New Orleans 30–23 13–11 3rd Southland Tournament
2023 New Orleans 36–24 13–11 T–3rd Southland Tournament
2024 New Orleans 31–26 14–10 3rd Southland Tournament
New Orleans: 256–220–1 122–113
Total: 256–220–1

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

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  1. ^ "Blake Dean receives All-American honors[permanent dead link]", KALB-TV. Retrieved on 2008-06-17.
  2. ^ "SPORTSLINE – Dean named to SEC All-Freshman Team", Northwest Florida Daily News, May 23, 2007.
  3. ^ lsusports.net
  4. ^ "2007 Wareham Gatemen". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  5. ^ "West All-Star Roster: All Star Game 2007". capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  6. ^ "BaseballAmerica.com: College: Awards: All-America Teams: 2008 First-Team College All-Americans". baseballamerica.com. June 12, 2008.
  7. ^ "Baseball Players Named to Preseason All-America Teams". LSUsports.net.
  8. ^ "Blake Dean". seniorclassaward.com.
  9. ^ "Minnesota Twins 2015 Draft Results". Minnesota Twins. Archived from the original on May 15, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2009.
  10. ^ Whittaker, Rachel (February 12, 2014). "Former LSU first baseman Blake Dean will be in the opposing UNO dugout for Friday's season opener". NOLA.com. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  11. ^ Brandon Scardigli (May 21, 2015). "Blake Dean Named Interim Head Coach of Privateers Baseball". University of New Orleans. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  12. ^ University of New Orleans. "Head Coach". University of New Orleans. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  13. ^ "LSU – Season Statistics". lsusports.net.
  14. ^ "LSU – Season Statistics". lsusports.net.
  15. ^ "LSU – Season Statistics". lsusports.net.
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