Dean College

Joe Cabral enters his fifth season as Head Coach of the Dean College Men’s Basketball program in the 2025-2026 season. He was named Assistant Director of Athletics and Recruiting Coordinator in summer 2024. 

Under the direction of Cabral, the Bulldogs finished with a historic 2024-25 season. the team finished with a 16-11 record, surpassing their win totals from the previous three seasons. They also hosted a first round playoff game, defeating Anna Maria College in storybook fashion. In additional to the regular season achievements, Billy Ray Barnes also earned Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Third Team All-Conference honors and was named a USBWA Division III National Player of the Week. 

Prior to this season, Cabral also guided the Bulldogs to several high-level accolades. Guard AJ Weston was named GNAC Second Team All-Conference two years in a row (2022-23, 23-24). The team received the prestigious NABC Team Academic Excellence Award in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. In 2022-23, the Bulldogs went 14-11. Cabral also spent time as the Cross Country Head Coach from 2018 to 2023. Under his guidance, the Men’s program won back-to-back NECC Conference Championships in 2018 and 2019. Cabral was named 2019 NECC Cross Country Coach of the Year.

Prior to being named Head Coach, Cabral served as the Associate Head Coach under his father Rico for four seasons. The 2018/19 team finished with a 17-9 record.  He was instrumental in recruiting and developing NECC All Conference selections Jordan Booker, Dayvon Russell, Armani Baker and Jordan Lynch – Rexroth. Rexroth was also named 2021 GNAC Man of the Year. Booker was named NECC player of the Year in 2019-20. Cabral’s first stint at Dean took place in 2012-13 as the assistant coach/recruiting coordinator for the Bulldogs.  The team finished 17-6 and advanced to the NJCAA Region 21 championship game.

Prior to Dean, Cabral spent three seasons at Lasell University. The Lasers finished 18-12 in 2013-14 and advanced to the ECAC Championship contest.  Lasell’s 2016-17 squad finished 19-9, finishing as GNAC runner up.  Cabral was responsible for recruiting Clyde Niba, Pat Marchand, and Armin Omanovic to Lasell, all of which were GNAC All Conference selections.  Omanovic was also a finalist for the Jostens trophy, the nation’s top player.  Cabral also spent the 2015-16 season at Rhode Island College as an assistant coach.

Cabral was a four-year letter winner at Mount Ida College, where he was team captain for three seasons. He started 71 games for the Mustangs during his playing career and appeared in 100 overall.  He is part of the GNAC 500 career rebound club. A three-time GNAC Academic All-Conference selection, Cabral was a member of the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society for business students. A 2012 graduate of Mount Ida College, Cabral is a multiple time Dean’s List honoree with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.