There were two head coaching changes on Monday with announcements that longtime Stony Brook head coach Chuck Priore and West Georgia head coach David Dean will not return for the 2024 FCS season.
Stony Brook has seen many changes in the 18 years of Priore’s tenure. He took over in 2006 when Stony Brook was still in the Northeast Conference and helped them make waves in the Big South from 2008 through 2012. The Seawolves made the FCS Playoffs for the first time in 2011 and then did it again in 2012. Stony Brook won their first-round matchup before losing in the second round both seasons.
In 2013, Stony Brook moved to the CAA where they didn’t achieve a winning overall record until two more playoff appearances in 2017 and 2018. Since those back-to-back playoff appearances, Stony Brook has not had a winning season including a 2-19 combined overall record in 2022 and 2023. In 18 years as head coach of Stony Brook, Priore went 97-101 overall with a 63-57 record in conference and 4 FCS Playoff appearances including a 3-4 postseason record while guiding them from the NEC to the Big South to the CAA.
West Georgia’s move to the FCS and the United Athletic Conference will not be overseen by David Dean after his resignation. Dean spent 9 seasons in charge of Valdosta State from 2007 through 2015, going 79-27 overall and 42-19 in the Gulf South Conference. He captured two Division 2 National Titles in 2007 and 2012 while making 6 playoff appearances. After a year at the FBS level, he returned to the Gulf South Conference with West Georgia in 2017. In 6 years with the Wolves, he went 48-20 overall and 31-15 in the Gulf South. He made 3 playoff appearances but never advanced beyond the second round. For his career, Dean went 127-47 overall, 14-7 in the Division 2 Playoffs, and finished with a 72-34 record in conference play.
Photo Credit to Stony Brook University Athletics
