New Lisbon football coach Alex Dean comes in knowing what Lion Pride is all about.
The 2013 Lisbon grad was named the head coach this week, pending school board approval.
“I know the kind of quality place Lisbon is,” Dean said. “I’m passionate and care for the success of Lisbon. When this opportunity came open, I was excited.”
Dylan Hastings had to step down due to a new job that won’t allow him the time to coach. He was 19-2 in two years with the Lions.
“We wanted to keep him long term, but an opportunity came up for him,” Lisbon activities director Levi Montague said. “He told us in early May he wasn’t able to come back.”
Montague said despite being late in the hiring cycle, the position drew a lot of interest.
Dean has coached the past three years at North Cedar. The Knights were just 4-22 during that stretch.
“We’ve had some challenging seasons,” Dean said. “You can’t run from your record. You do the best you can with where you are at.”
At Lisbon, he’ll inherit a coaching staff with a lot of familiar faces, including a few that played or coached with him.
“He has great knowledge of football for a younger guy,” Montague said of Dean, who is 30. “And he’s very enthusiastic on the strength and speed side. He’ll help develop multi-sport athletes.”
Dean, who graduated from Upper Iowa and got a Masters in Strength and Conditioning from Concordia, worked on the strength/conditioning program first at Winfield-Mount Union, then North Cedar.
“I’m excited to do that at Lisbon,” Dean said.
The new coach may have his work cut out for him. The Lions play in Class 1A this fall. District 5 includes MFL MarMac, Camanche, Dyersville Beckman, Northeast, and Cascade. The non-district schedule includes East Buchanan, Durant and Waterloo Columbus.
“It is a step up in competition,” Dean said. “I’ve already talked to the guys. It is a chance to meet those expectations. Lisbon has been successful in other sports, what in football are we doing to be ready for 1A football?”