Coach Kirby Dean has successfully changed the basketball culture at Eastern Mennonite University, guiding the Runnin' Royals to new heights in his eight seasons at his alma mater. EMU has become a national name in the past couple of years with Dean registering back-to-back 22-plus-win seasons, including a trip to the Elite Eight of the NCAA D-III National Championships.

Before Dean took over the program for 2003-04, Eastern Mennonite had a record of 310-577 with only seven winning seasons in 37 years. At 107-102, Dean is now the only coach in EMU men's basketball history to have a winning career record. He owns three of the four most successful seasons in the program's 45 years, including the 25-5 campaign in 2009-10.

That year, the Runnin' Royals not only advanced to their first-ever national tournament, they also hosted games on the opening weekend in front of packed crowds of more than 1600 fans. The Royals finished 14-2 in the ultra-competitive Old Dominion Athletic Conference, claiming just their second regular season title in program history.

Over the past two seasons, the up-tempo Runnin' Royals have been among national leaders in scoring offense, scoring margin and turnover margin. The men have averaged 87.0 and 87.8 points per game, giving their huge crowds a lot to cheer about while they racked up a 47-10 combined record.

Dean was named ODAC Coach of the Year after the 2009-10 season as well as the National Assosication of Basketball Coaches South Region Coach of the Year. He also mentored four men on the 2009-10 All-ODAC teams, including Todd Phillips who was named First Team All-American by D3hoops.com. In his senior season, Phillips was named ODAC Player of the Year, becoming just the third EMU men’s basketball player to earn the award.

Dean played four years at EMU from 1988 to 1992. He was named best defensive player in 1989, 1990, and 1992. In 1992, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education and a minor in Coaching. Following graduation he spent two years as an assistant coach with the Royals.

In 1994, Dean, who grew up in nearby Penn Laird, Va., moved down Interstate 81 to the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Va. He spent eight years from 1994 to 2002 as an assistant coach at the Division I institution. In 1995, the team went 18-10 overall and 10-4 in the Southern Conference. It was the most wins by a VMI squad since the 1970s. From 1994 to 1999, VMI went 40-33 in conference games, the most successful five-year run at the military school since the 1970s.

The Valley called Dean back closer to home in 2002 when he spent a year as the high school boys' basketball coach at Waynesboro High School and taught middle school. After one season, EMU came calling and Kirby Dean was named Head Coach of Men's Basketball.

In addition to his undergraduate degree, Dean also holds a Master of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in Athletic Administration from James Madison University. He currently lives in Harrisonburg with his wife, Regina, who is an elementary teacher in the Augusta County Public School District, and daughter, Maycee.

Dean has two bible verses that speak to him both in his life as EMU basketball coach and in his personal life. "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord…plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Through many years of coaching basketball, Dean most enjoys the relations that he develops with players. He greatly appreciates that many of his players from years ago at VMI still call or e-mail to keep in touch.

Melvin Felix joins EMU's staff for the 2011-12 season after completing a stellar career at ODAC-rival Roanoke College.

Felix was named All-ODAC Second Team his senior season as he led Roanoke in points, assists and steals.  He finished his collegiate career on a number of RC leader boards: 1,173 points (23^rd), 202 assists (14^th), 109 three-pointers (11^th) and a 79.5% free-throw percentage (13^th).

Bill Hale is no stranger to success and has brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the EMU men's basketball program. Hale begins his 12th year with the Royals for the 2011-12 season.

Hale brings more than 40 years of coaching experience and a winning attitude. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Stuarts Draft (Va.) High School in 1970. In 1976, he took over as head coach.

After the 1982-83 season, Hale moved on to Fort Defiance High School where he enjoyed much success. Twice he has been named Valley District Coach of the Year (95-96 and 98-99) and received Region Coach of the Year honors in the 95-96 season. 1995-96 was also a great year for Hale as he was named Virginia State Coach of the Year and watched his team capture the Valley District regular season championship and the Region II Championship.

Hale is a 1970 graduate of Emory & Henry College with a degree in history and physical education. While at Emory & Henry, Hale played four years of basketball and one year of baseball for the Wasps.

He and his wife, Glenna, reside in Weyers Cave. They have two sons, Chase and Nathan.

Mat Huff will return for a fifth year as an assistant coach under Kirby Dean for the 2011-12 season. Huff played one year at Emory & Henry before transferring and playing two years under Dean. Huff also played two years of tennis while a student at EMU.

"I enjoy working with Kirby and the rest of the staff at Eastern Mennonite. They bring a lot of basketball knowledge and experience and make the game fun for the players," added Huff.

Huff is an owner/commissioner of a youth basketball league in Clarke County Virginia as well as serving as a park supervisor for Clarke County Parks and Recreation.

Brendan Danker begins his second season on the staff under Dean.  Danker was previously an assistant men’s basketball coach with the team in 2010-11.  More of his responsibilities now lie under academic success of the team and the selling and fulfillment of game sponsorships.

After completing a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from EMU ('99), Danker worked in sales and marketing for a celebrity speakers bureau in Arlington. In the summer of 2006 he and his wife Stephanie (Harvey) moved to Kansas where he entered the masters of sport administration program at Wichita State University.

Upon finishing his Master of Education degree, he and his wife, Stephanie, moved to Champaign, Illinois, in pursuit of Stephanie's doctoral degree from the University of Illinois. While living in Champaign from 2008-10, Danker taught classes in Sport Psychology at Parkland College, as well as worked with their student-athletes on academic success.