Birmingham Tip Off Club

Dear Tip Off Club Members:

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of one of our cherished members, Joe Dean, Jr., who passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2026.

Joe served as President of the Birmingham Tip Off Club in 2003 and was an advocate for college basketball and the Tip Off Club’s mission to bring together those who love the game while supporting young people and the Birmingham community. His leadership, friendships, and commitment to the sport will be remembered by generations of Birmingham basketball fans.

Friends and Tip Off Club members are invited to a celebration of Joe’s life on Monday, August 24th @ 11:00 AM

Ashbury United Methodist Church
6690 Cahaba Valley Road
Birmingham, AL 35242

Service with reception to follow, lunch will be served.

If you wish to honor Joe's memory, we invite you to make a contribution to the Greater Birmingham Tip Off Club Foundation. Your support will not only commemorate his life but also continue his legacy of service to our community.

Please make your check payable to the Greater Birmingham Tip Off Club Foundation and mail it to 2019 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 101, Birmingham, AL 35203.

The Dean Family will be notified of your contribution.

PHOTO ALBUM:

Richard Hendrix - March 16, 2026 - Photos: Alan Stabler

We hope you will make plans to join us for the Greater Birmingham Tip Off Club's final meeting of our 2025-2026 Season on Monday, March 16, 2026, at the Harbert Center as we welcome College Basketball Analyst at the SEC Network and ESPN, Richard Hendrix.

Richard Hendrix is one of the rising stars among college basketball analysts. He's worked over 40 games this season for ESPN and the SEC Network, and he'll have much to discuss at our meeting which will take place on the day after the conclusion of the SEC Tournament, the American Athletic Conference Championship Game at Legacy Arena, and Selection Sunday, and just one day prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament. You'll recall that Hendrix was a McDoanld's All-American at Athens High School and an All-SEC forward at Alabama before playing professionally around the globe for 13 seasons.

This will be a great opportunity to bring guests as well, and we look forward to seeing you on the 16th. We'll follow our usual routine with the buffet line opening at 11:15 followed by the meeting from 12:00 to 1:00.

Photos taken by Alan Stabler: Martin Newton and Charles McClelland - Feb. 23, 2026

We hope you will make plans to join us for the Greater Birmingham Tip Off Club's next meeting on Monday, February 23, 2026, at the Harbert Center as we welcome the return of our NCAA Men's Basketball Committee Panel.

Immediate Past Committee Chair Charles McClelland (SWAC Commissioner), and Vice-Chair Martin Newton (Samford Athletic Director) will participate on a panel moderated by Kevin Scarbinsky, and you will not want to miss it.

This will be a great opportunity to bring guests as well, and we look forward to seeing you on the 23rd. We'll follow our usual routine with the buffet line opening at 11:15 followed by the meeting from 12:00 to 1:00.

Our next club meeting is Monday February 23, 2026!

A few of our members enjoyed the Squadron game last night!

We hope you will make plans to join us for the Greater Birmingham Tip Off Club's next meeting on Monday, February 9, 2026, at the Harbert Center as we welcome Andy Kennedy, UAB Men's Basketball Head Coach.

Andy Kennedy, named UAB’s seventh men’s basketball head coach in March 2020, returned to his alma mater as the program’s second-leading scorer all time. Entering his sixth season in 2025–26, he owns a 391–219 career head coaching record and is a two-time SEC Coach of the Year and the winningest coach in Ole Miss history. Kennedy is under contract through the 2027–28 season.

At UAB, he has led the Blazers to four straight conference championship appearances, back-to-back American Conference title games, and an NIT quarterfinal run in 2024–25. Over the last five seasons, Kennedy has 125 wins, tied for 11th most in the NCAA, including a program-record five consecutive 22-plus win seasons. His recent teams have also produced top individual honors, including AAC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference recognition for Yaxel Lendeborg.

We'll follow our usual routine with the buffet line opening at 11:15, followed by the meeting from 12:00 to 1:00 P.M.

Album: Steven Pearl - February, 2, 2026
Photos by Alan Stabler