GDW Analysis:
Cullman High School athletic director Mike Dean has been promoted from an interim position to a permanent position in a statement Saturday from the Cullman City Schools system.
Dean took over the AD role in an interim position after Mark Stephens retired at the start of 2025.
Dean has developed a good relationship with the school's administration, plus the athletic program and booster clubs.
With Dean displaying his role in the position, Cullman has made quality hires in three of their sports that are well known.
Trent Walker was the first to be hired with Dean's analysis. Walker is now the Bearcats football coach, a former player and former assistant.
A huge hire by Cullman with Dean working along the administration was Tammy West.
West has coached girls basketball at Cold Springs High School for 33 years and is among the Top 10 in all time victories in the AHSAA.
Before the school year closed out, the third hire under Dean was Drew Bryson. Bryson is in charge of the softball program.
Bryson played baseball at Cullman when Dean was coaching basketball. Bryson has 7 years of leadership with West Point HS, leading the Warriors to 6 Cullman County championships.
Dean coached Cullman basketball from 1997 until 2010.
The Bearcats encountered six winning seasons with Dean, his best being 24 & 7 in 1999/2000 and 24 & 10 in the 2005/06 campaign.
Dean remained in the area following retirement.
Cullman City Schools report Dean displays charismatic leadership has cultivated a culture of trust and interest to prioritizing the best interest of every student athlete.
With the addition of Walker, West and Bryson, Cullman is well established in its athletic program with other coaches such as Stu Stuedeman in basketball, Brent Patterson in baseball, Amy Hudson in volleyball, Trent Dean in cross country, Cory Goble in swimming & diving.
Cullman is in Class 6A of the AHSAA with football in regional play with Athens, Jasper, Decatur, Hartselle, Muscle Shoals and Columbia.
The other sports have area opposition with Mortimer Jordan and Jasper.
In his role of AD, Dean gets to see strong competition from great venues on the CHS campus such as Mark Britton Field/Oliver Woodard Stadium, Bill Shelton Field, Cullman softball field, Cullman soccer complex and Bearcat Arena.
Photo of Cullman AD Mike, courtesy of Cullman High School.
