Dean Hood - Football Coach - Murray State University Athletics

Dean Hood

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
msu.football@murraystate.edu
Phone:
(270) 809-6181

At MSU

Enters fourth season at the helm of the Racers in 2023.
Takes the Racers program into the 99th season of collegiate football at Murray State.
The Racers are also playing their first season in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2023.
Coached Racers to first back-to-back winning seasons in 2020-21 for just third time since 1999-00.
Coached 11 players to All-OVC honors in 2021, as well as DJ Williams to 2021 OVC Freshman of the Year honors.
Oversaw one of the best turnarounds in the nation in 2020 when he led Murray State to its first winning season since 2011 and best OVC record since 2005.
Started the season at 5-0, tying the 1995 team for the best start in school history.
Returned MSU to the top 25 poll in 2020, with the Racers earning their first ranking since 2011 and staying in the polls for seven consecutive weeks, including being ranked in the final poll for the first time since 2002.
Coached 13 total players to All-OVC honors in 2020, marking the second-most selections in program history, behind only the 15 selections from 1995.
Named as 19th head coach on Dec. 13, 2019.

Before MSU

Served three seasons on Mark Stoops' staff at Kentucky as the special teams coordinator while also coaching the outside linebackers (2017) and the defensive backs (2018-19).
Coached Max Duffy to Ray Guy Award for the nation's best punter in 2019 and was a part of three bowl games and two bowl wins while with the Wildcats.
In 2016, served as special teams coordinator, assistant head coach and tight ends coach at Charlotte.
Spent eight seasons (2008-15) as head coach at Eastern Kentucky going 55-38 with three FCS playoff appearances and two OVC titles.
At Eastern Kentucky, coached 26 first-team All-OVC selections, nine All-Americans, an OVC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year and an OVC Freshman of the Year.
Named OVC Coach of the Year in 2008, AFCA Regional Coach of the Year in 2011 and as a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award (nation's best FCS coach) in both 2008 and 2014
Saw three of his players at EKU compete in the NFL: Jordan Berry (P) Steelers, Matt Lengel (TE) Patriots and Noah Spence (DE) Saints.
From 2001 to 2007 was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Wake Forest, helping the Demon Deacons to three bowl games, two bowl wins and the 2006 ACC title.
Led a defensive unit that averaged 2.0-plus turnovers gained in seven season and also had four of his players taken in the NFL draft
Served under OVC Hall of Famer Roy Kidd at Eastern Kentucky as an assistant coach coach for five seasons, first as the secondary coach (1994-96), then as defensive coordinator and secondary coach (1997-98).
Other stops in his career include:
- Ohio - Secondary (1999-00)
- Glenville St. - Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach (1990-93)
- Colgate - Assistant Secondary (1989)
- Fairmont St. - Secondary (1987-88)

Personal

Has two sons, Trey and Daven, and two daughters, Jada and Cordia, with wife, Crystal.
Was a three-time all-conference selection and All-American for the Battling Bishops at defensive back and was inducted into OWU's Hall of Fame in 2001.
Earned B.S. in biology from Ohio Wesleyan in 1986 and a master’s in physical education from West Virginia in 1989.
Native of Ashtabula, Ohio.

Dean Hood Career Record
		Overall			OVC			*Note*
Season	School	W	L	%	W	L	%
2008	Eastern Ky.	8	4	.667	7	1	.875	OVC Champs, FCS Playoffs
2009	Eastern Ky.	5	6	.455	5	3	.625
2010	Eastern Ky.	6	5	.545	5	2	.714
2011	Eastern Ky.	7	5	.583	6	2	.750	OVC Champs, FCS Playoffs
2012	Eastern Ky.	8	3	.727	6	2	.750
2013	Eastern Ky.	6	6	.500	4	4	.500
2014	Eastern Ky.	9	4	.692	6	2	.750	FCS Playoffs
2015	Eastern Ky.	6	5	.545	5	3	.625
At EKU	8 Seasons	55	38	.591	44	19	.698	2 Titles, 3 Playoff App.
2020	Murray State	5	2	.714	5	2	.714
2021	Murray State	6	5	.545	3	3	.500
2022	Murray State	2	9	.181	1	4	.250	MSU's final season in OVC
At MSU	3 Seasons	13	16	.448	9	9	.500
Overall	11 Seasons	68	54	.557	53	28	.654	2 Titles, 3 Playoff App.
*Playoffs*	*3 Appearances*	0	3	.000
Overtime		3	2	.600	3	1	.750