Dean to step down as Bravettes' coach

Tricia Dean confirmed Saturday that this season as head coach of the Flathead Bravettes would be her last.

Dean has taught English and coached at Flathead for almost four years; she was hired to replace Lisa Hendrickson in May of 2016.

While the Bravettes are still hunting their first State AA tournament berth since 2013, they did trend up under Dean, who has a 24-48 record at the school at the midway point of this season.

She had little comment Saturday, other than to also confirm that her husband, Travis Dean, had been hired as offensive coordinator at Montana Tech. Tech head coach Kyle Samson, the former Flathead head football coach, is Tricia Dean’s brother.

“She’s been a great asset to our program, to our whole culture, and she’ll be missed,” Flathead athletic director Bryce Wilson said Saturday. “She’s really done great with the program. I think it’s on the upswing. She has the program in a really good place, and whoever replaces her has a good chance to move this team forward.”

Flathead, starting two freshmen and a sophomore, fell to 2-8 with a 59-43 loss to Helena High Saturday. Just three seniors dot the varsity roster.

A selection committee was formed last time the Bravettes changed coaches; Hendrickson resigned after three seasons in which Flathead went 11-52. Dean came over from Havre High School, where she’d been helping coach the Blue Ponies girls’ program.

Dean’s best season in terms was her first, when the Bravettes went 10-11, including a loss in the State AA play-in game.