As part of UIS Athletics' 15 Years of NCAA Division II Membership celebration, the department is highlighting 15 standout teams and 15 standout student-athletes who have shaped the program's Division II era. Each week, UIS features one team and one player, honoring the accomplishments, championship moments, and legacy-building performances that have defined Prairie Stars Athletics.

Andrew Dean delivered one of the most dominant pitching careers in UIS baseball history, establishing program standards during his two seasons with the Prairie Stars and playing a pivotal role in the program's rise on the national stage. A trailblazer in the Division II era, Dean became the first All-American pitcher in UIS history and the first Prairie Stars baseball player selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.

Following his senior season in 2019, Dean was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 18th round of the MLB Draft, becoming the second UIS baseball player to sign with a professional organization. His selection marked a milestone moment for Prairie Stars Athletics and highlighted the program's growing national profile. 

Dean's 2019 season stands as one of the most decorated individual campaigns in UIS baseball history. He went 12-0 with a 2.77 ERA, striking out 118 batters in 91 innings while holding opponents to a .217 batting average. He was named GLVC Pitcher of the Year, earned First Team All-GLVC honors, and became the first Prairie Stars pitcher to earn All-American recognition. Dean collected Third Team All-American honors from the ABCA and D2CCA and Honorable Mention All-American recognition from the NCBWA. 

That season, Andrew Dean was named First Team All-Region by the ABCA, D2CCA, and NCBWA, led the GLVC in ERA, strikeouts, and wins, and ranked among the conference leaders in multiple statistical categories, including WHIP, strikeout-to-walk ratio, and hits allowed per nine innings. Nationally, he ranked fourth in NCAA Division II in wins and finished in the top 10 in total strikeouts.

Dean was dominant in the postseason, going 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA and striking out 23 batters in 19 innings. He recorded at least eight strikeouts in 10 starts, including a season-high 12 strikeouts in seven innings during UIS's NCAA Super Regional victory over Ashland.

His success built upon an outstanding junior season in 2018, when he went 10-1 with a 2.91 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He earned First Team All-GLVC honors, was named First Team All-Region by the ABCA and D2CCA, and Second Team All-Region by the NCBWA. That year, he set a then-program single-season record with 10 wins, struck out 74 batters in 77.1 innings, and limited opponents to a .207 batting average.

By the conclusion of his UIS career, Dean stood as the program's all-time wins leader with 22 victories and still holds the UIS career record for ERA at 2.83. His 192 career strikeouts rank third all-time at UIS, and his 118 strikeouts in 2019 remain the program's single-season record.

A career defined by dominance, consistency, and historic firsts, Andrew Dean helped elevate UIS baseball during its Division II era and left a legacy that continues to shape the Prairie Stars pitching standard.

During his two seasons on the roster, UIS compiled an 88-26-1 overall record, including a 47-9 mark in 2018 and a 41-17-1 record in 2019. The 2018 team set program single-season records for team ERA and opponent batting average, while the 2019 squad posted the second-lowest opponent batting average in UIS history. 

UIS Athletics will continue the 15 Years of NCAA Division II anniversary series into the month of March. Fans can follow along each week as the department honors the teams and student-athletes who have shaped the Prairie Stars' Division II journey. Check out the feature on the 2018 UIS Baseball team, celebrated earlier in the 15 Years of NCAA Division II anniversary series.