Familiar Faces, Different Titles
Summer might be considered the off-season for TCNJ’s athletics teams, but it did feature the appointment of two full-time coaches with long histories at the College. In late June, Kelly Williams ’93 was named head coach of the men’s basketball team. Just two weeks later, Dean Glus MEd ’92 was permanently appointed head baseball coach.
Summer might be considered the off-season for TCNJ’s athletics teams, but it did feature the appointment of two full-time coaches with long histories at the College. In late June, Kelly Williams ’93 was named head coach of the men’s basketball team. Just two weeks later, Dean Glus MEd ’92 was permanently appointed head baseball coach.
For Williams, the appointment marks his return to the Packer Hall court on which he starred as a guard for four years and served as an assistant coach for another four.
“The opportunity to represent the College as an alumni and former player has always been a dream,” Williams said of his appointment. “I’m excited to have the tradition of TCNJ’s basketball program continue to grow under my direction.”
Williams played for the Lions from 1989 to 1993. He was the runner-up for New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Rookie of the Year and was named to the NJAC Honorable Mention Team as a junior. During his senior year—in which he was also team co-captain—Williams broke his leg two weeks into the season. He battled back to start the last 15 games of year and was named to the NJAC Honorable Mention Team. On his career, Williams recorded 937 points, 202 assists, and 125 steals.
Williams has worked in TCNJ’s admissions office since 1995, most recently as an assistant director. From 1995–1999 he served as a Lions assistant basketball coach under then-head coach John Castaldo. In 1999, Williams took over as head coach at Mercer County Community College. During his nine years there, he compiled a 154-100 record, and led the team to six Garden State Athletic Conference championships as well as three National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Region XIX Finals appearances.
For Glus, the appointment to full-time head coach caps off a successful year as the interim head of the Lions’ baseball program. Last season, he led his squad to a 30-12 record and appearances in the NJAC and NCAA tournaments. The NCAA trip kept alive the program’s five-year streak of receiving bids to the national tournament.
“Under Dean Glus, TCNJ’s baseball program did not miss a beat this past season…and continued to be a strong national contender,” noted Castaldo, TCNJ’s director of athletics.
Glus is no stranger to the program. Prior to his year as interim head coach he served as an assistant coach for 16 years. During that time he was involved in many facets of the game both on and off the field, ranging from pitching and catching, to infield play, to strategies of the game and recruiting.
In 1991, Glus also served as a national coach in Estonia for the Junior and National baseball teams in the Baltic States. In 1996, he was selected to serve as a coach with the Roberto Clemente All-Stars in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In the summer of 1997, he traveled to Guam and the Philippines while participating in Major League Baseball’s International Asian tour.
“I feel privileged and honored to be named the next head baseball coach of what has been, and what I am confident will continue to be, one of the top Division III baseball programs in the country,” Glus said.
Posted on August 13, 2008