dean headshot

Terry Dean

Terry Dean returns for his second season at the helm of the Drury Triathlon program in 2026.

In Dean's first season in charge, he led the Panthers to their third NCAA West Regional Championship and a third-place finish at the National Championship. During the regular season, Drury claimed two more wins as a team competing in the Duquesne Invitational and the Prairie State Cup. Dean coached five All-Americans last season, including Alexis Workman, who finished as the individual champion at the NCAA West Regional Championship and finished sixth at the National Championship. Across the 2025 season, Dean coached the program to hit five new marks that rank in the top 10 times, including Eszter Vas' program record in the sprint distance.

Before coming to Drury, Dean was also Associate Dean at Shippensburg University, where he shared responsibility in managing the operation of the college, consisting of 19 departments with 160 faculty and 2,200 students. 
 
Dean earned his Doctorate of Philosophy, specializing in Theatre History, Theory, and Dramatic Literature, from Indiana University. This comes after receiving a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Temple University and a Bachelor of Science with Honors, concentrating in Theatre Arts and Philosophy, from Bradley University. 
 
The Maquoketa, Iowa, native began his athletic career as a tennis player, qualifying for the state tournament in doubles during his high school years. Dean went on to play at Bradley University, earning regional junior singles and doubles championships.