LONG BEACH-- Long Beach State Basketball has hired Ronnie Dean as a new assistant coach, head coach Wayne Morgan has announced.

Dean has coached basketball at the Division I and junior college level for most of the past ten years, and has also spent time as a basketball scout. His most recent assistant coaching position was at Cal State Fullerton, where he worked during the 1997-98 season.

" I think Ronnie Dean will be a great addition to our staff," says Morgan. "He should help us a great deal in a variety of areas, and should give our recruiting a big boost."

Dean has also coached at Barton County Community College in Kansas (1994-95), Lamar Community College in Colorado (1993-94), Howard Community College in Texas (1991-93), and Allen County Community College in Kansas (1990-91).

The native of Sikeston, Missouri is a 1990 graduate of Harris-Stowe State College in St. Louis, Missouri, and will begin his duties at Long Beach State June 1.