About Dean Athletics
Dean College is a member of the NCAA III. Beginning with the 2020-21 academic year, the College became a full member of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC).
Dean College Athletics has 16 NCAA Division III programs, including: baseball; men’s and women’s basketball; men’s and women’s cross country; field hockey; football; men’s and women’s golf; men’s and women’s lacrosse; men’s and women’s soccer; softball and men’s and women’s volleyball.
Athletic Programs
Click on the below drop down list to learn more about the athletic program of your interest.
Learn more about the Baseball program at Dean College.
On the cusp of being one of the region’s breakout teams, the baseball program at Dean College has become known as a team that will play anyone, anywhere. The Bulldogs don’t shy away from competition and play a challenging schedule that includes an out-of-region spring break trip to Myrtle Beach.
Top-Notch Facilities
The Longley Athletic Complex is the exclusive home to the baseball program. The field features concrete dugouts and a solar-powered, inning-by-inning scoreboard as well as separate team bullpens and an outdoor batting tunnel.
Coaching Staff
A veteran on the field with more than 30 seasons of collegiate coaching experience, Dr. Ernie May has coached and had success at the Division I, II and III levels. In addition to his role as head coach, May is an assistant professor and program coordinator for the college's sport management program as well as assistant director of the institution's Center for Business, Entertainment and Sport Management.
Contact
Click on the link below to speak to Coach May.
Learn More
Click on the below links to learn more about the Baseball program at Dean College.
- Dean College Baseball
- Dean College Athletics
- Dean College Athletics Videos
- Dean College Baseball Instagram
Learn more about the men's and women's Basketball programs at Dean College.
Men’s Basketball
A program rich in tradition and excellence, the men’s basketball program at Dean College is one of New England’s most exciting teams. With a high-powered, attacking offensive style, student-athletes flock from states like Florida, Texas and California to play a brand of basketball that keeps the stands packed and the home crowd entertained and engaged. Already one of the best teams in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC), the Bulldogs have advanced to postseason play in four straight seasons and have recorded 10 straight winning seasons.
Coaching Staff
Son of longtime Dean basketball coach, Coach Joe Cabral enters his fifth season at Dean and his first as head coach. He aims to continue the longstanding commitment to excellence on and off the court for the men's basketball team.
Contact
Click on the link below to contact Coach Cabral.
Women’s Basketball
In a region filled with teams that play for national championships and produce All-Americans at an alarming rate, the women’s basketball program at Dean has emerged as a program to be on the lookout for. With a plethora of young stars and an energetic staff ready to take on the region’s elite, all the pieces are in place for the Bulldogs to join a crowded field of contenders looking to take the next step.
Coaching Staff
Laura Habacker entered her first season with Dean College in 2021-22. Coach Habacker joins having been both a coach and athletics administrator throughout New England both at the college and high school levels. The Bulldogs are coming off a conference tournament appearance in 2019 and will look to make a postseason berth in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) this season.
Contact
Click on the links below to contact Coach Habacker:
TOP-NOTCH FACILITIES
Named after former Boston Celtics minority owner Louis A.R. Pieri, Pieri Gymnasium is intimate and intimidating. With seating for less than 1,000 spectators, the fans are almost as close to the action as the student-athletes, providing the Bulldogs with an incredible home court advantage.
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Click on the below links to learn more about the men’s and women’s Basketball program at Dean College.
Learn more about the men’s and women’s Cross Country programs at Dean College.
Men’s Cross Country
In just its fourth season of existence as a Division III program, the men’s cross country team won the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championships (2018, 2019) and staked their claim as the premier program in the league and one of the best in New England. The team participates in seven events annually and challenges themselves against some the region’s top-tier programs in preparation for the season-ending conference championship.
Women’s Cross Country
In just four seasons of existence the women’s cross country program is methodically building their way to becoming one of the conference’s strongest programs. The team members participate in seven events annually and challenge themselves against some the region’s top-tier programs in preparation for the season-ending conference championship.
Coaching Staff
In his first season at the helm of the men’s cross country program, Joe Cabral brought the Bulldogs to unprecedented heights. The Bulldogs won the 2018 NECC Championship, three student-athletes were named NECC All-Conference and a total of five were named NECC Academic All-Conference.
Contact
Click on the link below to contact Coach Cabral:
TOP-NOTCH FACILITIES
The teams take advantage of some the region’s best athletic facilities. Training facilities include a three-lane track that surrounds Grant Field, an artificial surface facility. Oftentimes the workouts happen on the streets of Franklin, which was named the #2 safest city in the United States for 2023.
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Click on the below links to learn more about the men’s and women’s Cross Country program at Dean College.
Learn more about the Field Hockey program at Dean College.
After more than 20 years, the college brought back the field hockey program to much fanfare in 2019 and the program is off and running, taking shape as one to be reckoned with in the near future. A competitive schedule provides the student-athletes the opportunity to play against some of the region’s best teams and provides the critical component of the student-athlete experience with some competitions taking place out of region.
TOP-NOTCH FACILITIES
Grant Field, which sits behind Pieri Gymnasium, is home to the field hockey program and gives student-athletes easy access to athletic training facilities, locker rooms and the heart of the campus.
Coaching Staff
Megan Baker was named the Dean College Field Hockey Head Coach in March 2022. Baker comes to Franklin after spending the last few months as an Admissions Counselor and Student Ambassador Supervisor at Nichols College. Prior to her stint at Nichols, Baker was on the field hockey coaching staff at Albright as an assistant and interim head coach. Learn more about Coach Baker.
Contact
Click on the link below to contact Coach Baker:
- Email Megan Baker
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Click on the below links to learn more about the Field Hockey program at Dean College.
Learn more about the Football program at Dean College.
With playing roots dating back to the 1950s and once one of the country’s most formidable junior college programs, Dean has emerged as a rising star in the NCAA Division III football landscape. In two seasons since making the transition to the NCAA, the football program has a conference affiliation that allows them to face some of the region’s most recognizable teams and travel out of region for even more competition. In 2019, the program won the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) Championship and advanced to the New England Bowl Series.
TOP-NOTCH FACILITIES
A hidden gem nestled on a back street in picturesque Franklin, the Longley Athletic Complex serves as the home to numerous Dean College intercollegiate programs. The crown jewel of the nine-acre complex is Dale Lippert Field, home to the College’s football program. A 1,500-seat stadium, Lippert Field is the region’s premier natural grass playing surface in Division III and provides an incredible home field advantage.
Coaching Staff
Andrae Murphy '07 was named the Dean College Football Head Coach on January 21, 2022. Murphy earned honorable mention NJCAA All-American and First Team All-Northeast Junior College honors as a defensive back at Dean from 2005-07. He earned an associate degree in Communications in 2007. Murphy takes over a Bulldogs program that went 2-8 overall and 1-5 in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) in 2021. The team is two years removed from an ECFC championship in 2019 and will look to make a run at next year’s title with a large group of returning skill position players and a talented crop of newcomers. Learn more about Coach Murphy.
Contact
Click on the link below to contact Coach Murphy:
- Email Andrae Murphy '07
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Click on the below links to learn more about the Football program at Dean College.
Learn more about the men’s and women’s Golf programs at Dean College.
Men’s Golf
With access to some of New England’s finest golf courses and the ability to compete against teams of all competitive levels, the Dean College men’s golf program continues its trend toward becoming one of the region’s most consistent programs. With a schedule that encompasses the entire academic year – six to seven events in the fall semester and then three to four more in the spring – student-athletes are constantly working on their game and taking advantage of playing opportunities.
Women’s Golf
Beginning with the 2020-21 academic year, Dean College will add women’s golf as an intercollegiate sport. This is an exciting opportunity for prospective and current students to be on the leading edge of building the athletics program. The addition of women’s golf will enhance the opportunities for and experiences of female-student athletes.
Coaching Staff
The head men's and women's golf coach is Austin McCreary.
Contact
Click on the link below to contact Coach McCreary:
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Click on the below links to learn more about the men’s and women’s Golf program at Dean College.
Learn more about the men’s and women’s Lacrosse programs at Dean College.
Men’s Lacrosse
Not many teams can boast of success similar to the accomplishments of the Dean College men’s lacrosse program. A perennial powerhouse during their junior college days, the program has found immediate success at the NCAA Division III level. The Bulldogs won the school’s first-ever conference championship in 2018 and returned to the playoffs in 2019.
Coaching Staff
A familiar name in the annals of men’s lacrosse at Dean, Matt Schairer has continued the Bulldogs tradition of excellence as the program transitions to Division III. Already entering his fifth season in 2021, he has racked up a multitude of accomplishments in his short tenure as the Bulldogs’ head coach.
In 2018, Schairer led Dean to the program’s first-ever New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) championship and a stellar 10-4 overall record. Several student-athletes scooped up all-conference accolades under Schairer’s watchful eye and he was named the NECC Coach of the Year.
Contact
Click on the link below to speak to Coach Schairer:
Women’s Lacrosse
The pieces are in place for the women’s lacrosse program at Dean to take off. Incredible facilities. Supportive faculty. Extensive learning opportunities. Outstanding administrative support. All the amenities a student-athlete needs to excel and become not just the student-athlete but the student they want to be are available to the members of the women’s lacrosse program.
Coaching Staff
Jessica Paulin has a pedigree of coaching and developing talent at the Division III level. She has also had varied experiences at independent schools, with club programs and with national organizations that give her a keen insight on program building, student-athlete development and athletic achievement.
Contact
Click on the links below to speak to Coach Paulin:
TOP-NOTCH FACILITIES
Grant Field, which sits behind Pieri Gymnasium, is home to the men’s and women’s lacrosse program and gives student-athletes easy access to athletic training facilities, locker rooms and the heart of the campus. Evidence of the College’s ongoing commitment to providing the best possible opportunities for its student-athletes, a synthetic surface was installed in the summer of 2015. A new wireless digital scoreboard was added in the fall of 2017, making the facility one of the best in the region.
LEARN MORE
Click on the below links to learn more about the men’s and women’s Lacrosse programs at Dean College.
Learn more about the men’s and women’s Soccer program at Dean College.
Men’s Soccer
With its recent history as a junior college powerhouse, the men’s soccer program at Dean College has made a seamless transition to the world of NCAA Division III. Two seasons removed from a 16-1-3 season that saw them reach the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) national semifinals, the program is on the cusp of continuing its history of excellence and has already defeated some of the region’s traditional powers along the way.
Coaching Staff
An experienced sideline mentor, Joseph Campbell will enter his third season on the Bulldogs’ sidelines but has more than 10 years of head coaching experience. The three-time Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Coach of the Year, Campbell was a standout player in his own right as an undergraduate, earning all-New England accolades in back-to-back seasons before heading to his native Ireland to play semi-professional soccer.
Contact
Click on the link below to speak to Coach Campbell:
Women’s Soccer
Fresh off of a postseason appearance a season ago, the energy that exists within the women’s soccer program is palpable. An excellent mix of veteran leaders and talented underclassmen have made for an exciting team of student-athletes ready to make a mark and establish Dean as a destination for high-level women’s soccer players. With a schedule that features some of the top teams in New England and the College’s first-ever season-opening, four-team tournament, the women’s soccer program at Dean is headed in a direction that will undoubtedly make it one of the region’s rising stars.
Coaching Staff
In less than a year, Ashley Magruda-Wood took over and had her fingerprints all over the Dean program. She guided the Bulldogs to the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) tournament for the first time in school history and has replenished the roster with student-athletes prepared to make an immediate impact.
Contact
Click on the below links to speak to Coach Magruda-Wood:
TOP-NOTCH FACILITIES
A hidden gem nestled on a back street in picturesque Franklin, the Longley Athletic Complex serves as the home to numerous Dean College intercollegiate programs. The all-encompassing venue features a soccer-only facility, giving the soccer programs at Dean two natural grass competition facilities.
LEARN MORE
Click on the below links to learn more about the men’s and women’s Soccer programs at Dean College.
Learn more about the Softball program at Dean College.
Dating back almost 50 years, Dean softball boasts an impressive history. The program has a trio of National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) region championships and has now made the transition to the NCAA Division III level in search of similar success. The Bulldogs play a challenging schedule that features some of the region’s toughest teams.
TOP-NOTCH FACILITIES
Not many teams in New England can boast of the luxury of having two competition facilities. Dean has a pair of stellar fields they call home – a natural grass, softball-only facility as part of the Longley Athletic Complex and the artificial surface of legendary Grant Field. With an on-campus indoor hitting facility, various strength, conditioning and nutrition programs, as well as access to training facilities including Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots and New England Revolution, the opportunities to excel on and off the diamond are endless.
Coaching Staff
The head softball coach is Tammy Silveira.
Contact
Click on the link below to contact Coach Silveira:
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Click on the below links to learn more about the Softball programs at Dean College.
Learn more about the men’s and women’s Volleyball programs at Dean College.
Men’s Volleyball
One of the most recent additions to the athletics program, men’s volleyball looks like it can quickly ascend in the charts in the New England landscape – a region filled with national powers and several up-and-coming programs. In its first year of postseason eligibility, the Bulldogs earned a spot in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) tournament quarterfinals. The following year, the team went 15-10 and had a pair of all-conference performers.
Women’s Volleyball
Since its inception three seasons ago, the Dean’s women’s volleyball program has grown by leaps and bounds and is on the verge of becoming one of New England’s most dangerous teams. The Bulldogs have already experienced success, having advanced to the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) tournament in back-to-back years. They boast student-athletes who have earned significant accolades, like All-American, All-Conference and All- Region.
Coaching Staff
Mark Ledwich was named the head coach of the men's and women's volleyball programs at Dean College in August 2021.
Ledwich comes to Franklin from nearby Foxboro where he was the Director of Volleyball and Staffing at Mass Premier Courts. Previously, he was the club director of Viper Sports NYC, a boys and girls club program based in Brooklyn.
Contact
Click on the below link to speak to Coach Ledwich:
TOP-NOTCH FACILITIES
Named after former Boston Celtics minority owner Louis A.R. Pieri, Pieri Gymnasium is intimate and intimidating. With seating for less than 1,000 spectators, the fans are almost as close to the action as the student-athletes, providing the Bulldogs with an incredible home court advantage.
LEARN MORE
Click on the below links to learn more about the men’s and women’s Volleyball programs at Dean College.