By Damarte Fisher, dfisher@natchitochestimes.com
Coach Charles “Corey” Deans, married to Mary Deans, is a Lakeview Alumni, who graduated with the class of 2003. He played basketball in junior high and high school under the leadership of coach Mack Braxton, assistant coaches Mike Peters, Henry Kirts, Chris Bush and college intern coach Eddie Hamilton. Coach Bush left during Dean’s senior year to be head coach at Natchitoches Central, when Lakeview would go 42-0.
Coach Braxton and assistant coaches advised that Deans was the coach on the floor. “They always said that I was a natural born leader. My coaches always told me that one day you’re going to be a coach” Deans said. After high school he went to Southern in Shreveport, where he played basketball. Deans graduated from Southern in 2005. He then worked for Alliance Compressors, where he was a machine specialist.
Deans took an intern-coaching job at Lakeview in 2009, under the leadership of Coach Eddie Hamilton. Deans joined the U.S. Army in 2010. Deans would move his wife and five kids to Ft. Sill, Okla. a year later. While serving at Ft. Polk he received a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management, Cum Laude in Oct. 2013.
He completed the Alternate Teacher Education Program at Louisiana College this year. Deans decided to not serve active duty and joined the reserve, where he is still active. Deans continues to further his education while he is earning his Master’s degree. He got a job as a math teacher and basketball coach at Natchitoches Jr. High, where he worked two years.
He then joined coach Hamilton again at Southwood High School in Shreveport as an assistant coach and math teacher for one school year. Deans was just named the new head coach at Green Oaks High School in Shreveport.
He replaced Coach Bush, one of his assistant coaches in high school. Even though coaching is Dean’s passion, he also has a great connection with the kids off the court. He admired the coaching styles of the late coach Braxton and coach Bush.
“Coach Bush was so repetitive. He would make us do something 21 times so when every time we do it we are comfortable. He corrects you over and over,” Deans said. Deans also believes that students should be focused on academics first and then basketball. “Classroom comes first, basketball is second. If grade requirements aren’t met then we will have to find a way to fix the problem even if it takes canceling practices,” Deans said. Deans believes that he will help turn this program around by setting high goals, repetition, teaching the fundamentals and making defense the first priority.
