BARBOURVILLE — The Union College women’s basketball team has a new top dog to lead the pack as Dean Walsh is the Bulldogs’ new head coach, Executive Director of Athletics Tim Curry announced Wednesday.

Walsh takes over the program after Curry left the post to become the Director of Athletics full time.

“With our relationship going back almost 30 years in coaching, I am extremely excited to bring Dean to our staff as our next head women’s basketball coach,” said Curry. “Coach Walsh has a proven track record of success at every level of college basketball, and although this process took a while to get completed, there is no question that we have hired a perfect fit for our program and for Union College.”

With nearly 30 years on the sidelines, Walsh owns a career record of 332-236 as a collegiate head coach and has going 33-1 at the helm of USA Athletes International team, capturing four international championships in Barbados, Holland, Italy, and Australia. A graduate of Maryville College (Tenn.), Walsh has coached at every level and division collegiately as he has been a head coach in the junior college, NCAA Division II, and NCAA Division III ranks and an assistant for two NCAA Division I programs.

“First and foremost, I want to thank Dr. Marcia Hawkins and Tim Curry for this opportunity,” Walsh said. “It’s an honor to be entrusted with the women’s basketball program that Coach Curry has successfully built. I’m also excited and happy to a part of the Union Bulldog family. Union has everything I want in a school and program, and I’m ready to carry on the tradition and to bring continued success to the program.”

Here is listing of Walsh’s coaching stops:

2015-19 – Converse College (S.C.), head coach, posted a 32-72 record, is the all-time wins leader in program history;

2013-14 – Austin Peay State University (Tenn.), assistant coach;

2012-13 – Gardner-Webb University (N.C.), associate head coach;

2001-11 – Carson-Newman University (Tenn.), head coach, posted a 172-124 record, 4 NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, 1 Sweet 16 appearance, twice named the NCAA Division II Region 3 Coach of the Year, team finished fourth or better in the South Atlantic Conference nine times;

1998-01 – Maryville College (Tenn.), head coach, posted a 61-17 record, 2 NCAA Division III Tournament appearances;

1994-97 – Hiwassee College (Tenn.), head coach, posted a 67-23 record, 2 NJCAA Sweet 16 appearances.

The Bulldogs finished the 2018-19 season with a 15-15 overall record and a 12-14 mark in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play.

Union opens the 2019-20 season on Nov. 1. The full schedule will be announced at a later date.