A 1981 graduate of Grand Forks Red River High School, Dean was a standout tennis and basketball player for the Riders.  On the hardwood, Dean was a starting point guard on the 1981 basketball team and emerged as a key contributor for the 5th-place Roughriders, finishing with a 19-5 season. In tennis, Dean played #1 singles for three years, earning All-State honors as a sophomore and junior before winning the North Dakota State Singles Championship in 1980 as a senior.  He continued his career at the University of North Dakota, earning four varsity letters and leading them to back-to-back North Central Conference (NCC) championships in 1984 and 1985. He was a three-time NCC No. 1 singles and doubles champion, qualifying for the NCAA Division II National Tournament each year. In 1985, he became the first UND men’s player to win a match at nationals. Dean was inducted into the UND Athletic Hall of Fame in 2020. He was also inducted into North Dakota State Tennis Hall of Fame and the North Dakota Athletic Hall of Fame in 2024. Rudrud went on to become a decorated Minnesota high school tennis coach, leading teams at St. Paul Academy, Washburn, Bloomington Jefferson, and Eden Prairie to multiple state championships. His players won several individual state titles, including a 4-time Minnesota State Singles Champion. Dean has worked as a tennis professional at top clubs across Minnesota and is currently the Director of Racquet Sports at Lafayette Club in Minnetonka Beach. As a USTA Elite Certified Tennis Professional and certified pickleball pro, he’s known for giving back through youth programs and volunteer coaching.  Dean has three sons, Dillon, Brady, and Spencer, that he is the most proud of.