Cokinos hat selbst hat an der University of Boston Linebacker gespielt. Er lebt mit seiner Familie in Tennessee und hat schon sehr viel Coaching Erfahrung.
Mit Coach Cokinos warden einige Änderungen auf die Rebels Defense zukommen, die diesen sehr positiv entgegensehen. 1994 war Cokinos zum ersten mal in Deutschland und sammelte bereits GFL Erfahrung. Drei Jahre lang war er Head Coach und General Manager bei den Nürnberg Rams und war in dieser Zeit auch Defense Coordinator der Deutschen Nationalmannschaft 1995.
1999 übernahm er das GFL Süd Team der Munich Cowboys als Headcoach und auch General Manager. In den Jahren 2000 und 2001 erreichte er mit dem Team das Play Offs Halbfinale.
2002 war Cokinos zum ersten Mal in Berlin beim damaligen Liga Konkurrenten Berlin Adler. Auch mit den Adlern erreichte er das Play Offs Halbfinale, bevor er zurück in die USA ging. Hier wurde er Vice President und Headcoach der Scranton Pioneers in der Arena Football League 2 (Pennsylvania). Und im Arena Football blieb er dann auch erst einmal.
2004- 2007 war er Assistant HC und OC der Nashville Kats aus Nashville Tennessee und anschließend ging es zur Georgia Force (vorher Alabama Vipers, dann Umzug nach Georgia).
2012- 2014 war er Headcoach und Vice President der Alabama Hammers in Huntsville und wurde dort 2013 Coach of the Year sowie Division und Liga Champion.
2014 coachte er gemeinsam mit Kim Kuci in New Orleans beim Team der New Orleans Vodoo und wechselte anschließend als Assistant HC und Defense Coordinator nach Florida zu Tampa Bay Storm.
2016 wurde er HC und General Manager bei Washington Valor/ Monumental Sports & Entertainment und coachte hier bis 2018.
Nun kommt er 2019 zurück nach Berlin und übernimmt die Defense der Berlin Rebels als DC und Defense Line Coach.
Sportdirektor Dogan Özdincer, Head Coach Kim Kuci und auch 1. Vorsitzender der Rebels, Andreas Riedel, freuen sich sehr über den Neuzugang und das alles so schnell und unkompliziert geklappt hat. Coach Dean war sofort Freuer und Flamme für die Rebels, denn er hat das Team durch seinen langjährigen Freund Kim Kuci immer mit großem Interesse verfolgt.
“I am very excited for the opportunity to return to Berlin to coach again in the GFL. I would like to express my gratitude to Coach Kuci, Dogan Ozdincer, and Mr. Riedel as well as the Rebels board for allowing this to happen.
The GFL is a great league where I have many fond memories as well as secured many lifelong bonds with players, coaches and others. A prime example is Coach Kuci. I had the opportunity to coach Kim from 1999-2001 and I saw him not only blossom and excel as an elite player but also as a family man, and now as a Head Football Coach. Kim was a very good player but I have been even more impressed with his evolution as a coach. I observed his teams from afar until he spent some time coaching on my staff in New Orleans and I quickly realized that he had the tools to be a really good coach and over the last few years I have become a fan of his teams.
Berlin is a football haven in Germany, there is so much talent in the region. The Rebels have a fine coaching staff and Kim and Dogan have done an exceptional job of building this club up to a top team in the GFL as well as all of Europe.I am also looking forward to working with Armin Khavari, who I coached when I was with the Adler. Armin was an excellent player who I admired very much. In 2001 he was essentially a coach on the field and led a very good defense at that time, calling the majority of the coverages on game day. From what I have see on video from 2018 he has done an outstanding job with the secondary for the Rebels. Also, I am very familiar with Cliff Madison. I had the (mis) pleasure (lol) of coaching against Cliff when he was the QB for Berlin, he was tough to handle. Cliff gave us fits so I am looking forward to being on the same team now.
It is truly my privilege to be part of the 2019 Berlin Rebels, it's an outstanding group of people leading this team and I hope to be a productive contributor and a good assistant coach that helps the Rebels achieve the ultimate goal of becoming German Bowl Champions.”
