Wisconsin Football Coaches Association

Inducted in 2000

Graduated from Dodgeville High School, 1960, Graduated from UW-Platteville, 1965, with a major in Agriculture and a minor in Physical Education, Health and Driver Ed, Master Degree in Physical Education, 1970.

In high school, Dennis participated in football four years; baseball four years and basketball one year. He participated in football all four years at college.

Football coaching experience includes coaching at Black Hawk High School (1965-present). The school's name was South Wayne in 1965 and then in 1968 South Wayne and Gratiot consolidated and became Black Hawk High School.

Dennis has also coached baseball for 34 years and remains head varsity coach. He also coached basketball for eight years as an assistant varsity coach.

During Dennis' coaching career he has had seven Conference Championships (1970, 1972, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1989, 1995), three undefeated conference champs and one undefeated season. His teams have had seven playoff appearances (1981, 1984, 1989, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999). His overall record through 1999 is 192-118-4.

Dennis has been Athletic Director for three years, Lettermen's Club advisor for 35 years, WFCA and WHSBCA member, and past District Representative for the WFCA. He's been on the city Police and Fire Commission for the City of Darlington, Parish Council member for Holy Rosary Catholic Church, a member of the Darlington Optimist Club, and a past member of the Darlington Jaycees.

Over the years Dennis has been honored with seven Conference Champions awards; he was District Coach of the Year (1981, 1984,1989, 1999), Region Coach of the Year in 1989; received a WFCA 25-year Service Award in 1990; a Victor's Award for 100 wins in 1989 (105-55-9 record); received National High School Gold Coaching Awards for both baseball and football, presented in cooperation with Scholastic Coaching magazine.

Dennis has been married to Millie for 28 years. The have a son, Erin, who is a graduate of UW-Platteville with a communications major and journalism minor; a son, Ryan, who is a freshman at UW-Platteville; a daughter, Briana, a senior at Darlington High School, and a son, Gavin, a sophomore at Darlingon High School.