Kent State Football Coach Dean Pees Announces Resignation
2/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
I am very pleased for Dean, Melody and their family to have the opportunity to go to the marquee football team in the world, Kennedy said. Personally, it is a loss. Dean is a trusted friend and one of the finest football coaches I have worked with.
Pees recently completed his sixth season as head football coach at Kent State, compiling a career record of 17-51. He had held the longest tenure at the helm of the football program since Trevor Rees 17-year run from 1946-63.
I cant say enough good things about Kent State University, Mr. Kennedy and Dr. Cartwright, Pees said, and I am grateful for the opportunity they gave me and my family. This was the longest tenure I have had at any one institution and it was a really difficult decision to leave a place we call home. At the same time, I feel this is a great opportunity with a great organization and it will give me a chance to grow professionally.
Kent State posted a 5-7 record in 2003, including a 4-4 mark in Mid-American Conference play, good for fourth in the MAC East Division. The records were both second best to the 2001 squad that went 6-5, 5-3 MAC. Following that season, Pees was runner-up in MAC Coach of the Year voting and second runner-up for Ohio Coach of the Year in all divisions.
Pees also oversaw tremendous academic progress in the football program, raising the graduation rate to nearly 70 percent and rising, while significantly improving the team grade-point average that includes an academic-year GPA of 2.79. The football programs retention rate also was outstanding under Pees, as 75 percent of his freshman classes remained with the program.
Deans support of the academics process at Kent State has been exceptional, said Associate Director of Athletics Cathy ODonnell. From recruitment to graduation, he has stressed classroom priorities, and improved graduation rates in the department are a direct reflection of the football programs retention rate.
Pees came to Kent State after spending three years as defensive coordinator at Michigan State. A native of Dunkirk, Ohio, he also has served as defensive coordinator at Toledo, Miami (Ohio) and Findlay, and has been the secondary coach at Navy and Notre Dame.
Having a football coach from Kent State move to this type of position doesnt happen often, Kennedy said. I believe Dean moving on like this speaks volumes about where our football program is and the respect of our former head coach and institution. It puts us in a position of strength in hiring a new coach.
No formal plans are in place for the vacant position at this time, however each member of the current staff will be retained. We will be keeping our coaching staff intact, Kennedy said. We have an excellent group of coaches and from that perspective it is business as usual.
We will be moving forward quickly to replace Dean, Kennedy continued, and I believe we have some strong internal candidates.
Dean Pees will be greatly missed by Kent State University, Kent State President Dr. Carol Cartwright said. Above all, we appreciate his commitment to the university over the last six years, in building a football program that complements the academic mission and values of Kent State. The football teams turnaround on the field has been matched by an 88 percent graduation rate for our student-athletes. We wish Coach Pees and his family well in their new endeavors.
