Chip Dean

Director, ESPN's Monday Night Football

Chip Dean joined ESPN just two months after the network’s September 1979 launch and is one of the top directors in the company’s remote production department.  Dean worked on Sunday Night Football from 2001-05, and moved to one of the top positions in the industry in 2006, as director of ESPN’s Monday Night Football.

Dean and producer Jay Rothman comprise one of the most innovative and talented production duos in sports. They have teamed together on football for 16 seasons, and their work resulted in ESPN's Sunday Night Football game coverage being recognized in 2004 with sports television's highest honor, the Emmy in the Live Series category.  Together, they oversaw the inaugural season of ESPN’s MNF, the most-watched series in cable television history.

Aside from his NFL responsibilities, Dean served as the lead director for ABC Sports’ college football telecasts from 1997 to 2000, featuring two Rose Bowls, two Orange Bowls, the Fiesta Bowl and a pair of National Championship games. Dean was also the director of ESPN’s prime-time college football telecasts for 10 years (1987-1996) and the network’s lead college basketball director from 1985 to 2000, with highlights including the ACC and Big East conference tournaments.

Dean’s other high-profile directorial assignments have included ESPN’s College World Series coverage (1990-1993), 10 years of the ESPYs, the X Games, the NCAA Women’s Final Four, Wednesday Night Baseball, men’s college basketball and more.  He has also served as coordinating director for ESPN’s coverage of the NFL Draft. 

Dean won two CableACE Awards (Award for Cable Excellence) in the Directing Live Sports Events category: in 1990 for his work on college football and in 1991 for the College World Series.  He also directed the CableACE-winning (Sports Events Special) Duke/North Carolina basketball game in 1993.  Dean has received three Sports Emmy Awards: Technical Team Remote for the 1997 and 1996 X Games and in the graphics category for his contributions to ESPN's 1988 NCAA basketball open.

Dean also has directed the network's 1988 America's Cup coverage, auto racing, tennis, figure skating, swimming & diving and select events at the 1985-87 U.S. Olympic Festivals.

Dean joined ESPN as a director for SportsCenter in November 1979.  He assumed a similar position in the network's remote production department in September 1983.

From 1977 to 1979, Dean was a production manager for Channel 10 in Danbury, Conn.  He also worked for the National Rifle Association in 1976 as a radio interviewer.  A native of Ridgefield, Conn., Dean attended Arizona State University on a football scholarship and played free safety for the Sun Devils.  He received a bachelor of science degree in broadcasting in 1977.