Former Birmingham-Southern College athletics director dies

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Former Birmingham-Southern College (BSC) Athletics Director Joe Dean Jr. has died, WBRC confirmed Sunday night.

Dean served at BSC in multiple capacities before serving as the athletics director for the Panthers for 17 years.

During his time as the BSC athletics director, Dean led the college’s move to Division I and Division III, was instrumental in adding new sports programs, and created the first ever BSC Athletic Foundation that raised more than $7 million in support of the college’s athletics program.

After announcing his retirement from the school, then BSC President Linda Flaherty-Goldsmith appointed Dean as the college’s first-ever athletics director emeritus.

In addition to his work at BSC, Dean, who also played collegiate basketball at Mississippi State, spent more than 20 years as a television color analyst covering the sport.

One of Dean’s former commentary partners, Tim Brando, posted Sunday in memory of him.

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