University of St. Thomas Athletics
Dennis Denning was a two-time National Coach of the Year at St. Thomas
St. Thomas mourns passing of coaching legend Dennis Denning
11/16/2022 2:51:00 PM | Baseball
St. Paul, Minn. -- Tributes are coming in after news that Hall of Famer and former Tommie Baseball head coach Dennis Denning passed away early Wednesday morning at age 76 after a series of health issues.
A St. Paul native, Denning was known as an overachiever early in his baseball playing days. He once explained that he was cut in tryouts from some teams early in his Cretin High career, and made the baseball varsity as a senior in 1962. He later played sparingly as a freshman at St. Thomas in 1963, but he later worked himself into a college starting role, and rose to become a major-league draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles.
His minor-league baseball career with Baltimore was eventually halted by injuries just as he reached the Class AAA level, but Denning gave back to baseball and his hometown in a big way as a coach and teacher of the game.
At the University of St. Thomas (1995-2009) and Cretin-Derham Hall (1978-94), Denning combined to win 80 percent of his games with 901 victories.
Denning took the Tommie baseball program to new heights during his 15-year era here. His Tommie teams won NCAA Division III championships in 2001 and 2009 and claimed national runner-up finishes in 1999 and 2000.
Twice named NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year at St. Thomas, Denning's 522-157 overall record (.769 win percentage) was the best mark over his 15-year era among all NCAA Division III coaches. He had 12 players named Division III All-Americans, and four voted CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. Four of his players were selected in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft -- Jake Mauer, Buzz Hannahan, Chris Olean, and Tony Fischer.
In each of his last 14 seasons, the Tommies won either the regular-season or postseason title in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). His 1999 Tommie team was the first in conference history to make the D-III College World Series.
Prior to his Tommie coaching chapter, he was head coach for 17 seasons at nearby Cretin-Derham Hall High School. His Raider teams won six Minnesota state large-class championships, 15 St. Paul City Conference titles, and amassed a 379-76 record (.833).
Denning took St. Thomas baseball on an historic trip to Havana, Cuba in January 2000 -- only the third American professional or collegiate team to play in Cuba since Fidel Castro came to power nearly 40 years earlier. St. Thomas played two exhibition games against the University of Havana and hosted a return trip by a Cuban team in May 2000 that featured a game at Minneapolis' Metrodome.
Denning was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2012, and previously was inducted into the St. Thomas Athletic Hall of Fame for his undergraduate playing career in the mid-1960s. He was also a member of the Mancini's Hall of Fame in St. Paul.
Denning was head coach of the gold-medal winning U.S. North Squad in the 1989 Summer Olympic Festival.
He was a Dick Siebert Award winner and a past president of the Minnesota High School Baseball Coaches Association. He was Minnesota High School Coach of the Year four times, Region 3AA Coach of the Year seven times, and was a National High School Coach of the Year finalist three times.
Denning is survived by his wife Nancy; daughters Jamie McQuillan and Heather Krieger and spouses; son Wes and spouse; and 10 grandchildren. A celebration of his life is being planned and details will be announced when finalized.
Tributes
St. Thomas Baseball head coach Chris Olean was an All-America pitcher and later longtime assistant coach here under Dennis Denning. Olean called his coach a unique mentor, on and off the field.
"The baseball world lost a great coach and a better man today. Coach Denning was a once-in-a-lifetime leader of men. In reflecting back on my time with him as a player and assistant coach, his baseball knowledge and coaching skill was unmatched. He was able to squeeze every bit of talent out of his players, maximizing their strengths and instilling them with the belief that they could get the job done. As on on-field game manager he always seemed to push the right buttons at the right time. Whether it was a bunt, hit and run, or picking the perfect pinch hitter. At times it would seem as if he willed his teams to victory with that desire to win.
"He was an expert in common sense, and taught life lessons through baseball every day. He loved a challenge, loved to compete, and his players embraced that mindset. I can say with sincerity that I have never played harder for any coach in my entire career. He was not big on motivational speeches or gimmicks; he simply came to work every day and was more prepared than anyone he lined up against. He was authentically himself; his toughness, grit, and competitiveness were contagious, and his teams played that way. My biggest fear as a player and assistant coach was disappointing him. You knew how much he wanted it and the time and effort he put in to give us the best possible chance to succeed."
St. Thomas Vice-President and Director of Athletics Phil Esten played all four years with Tommie Baseball, including his senior season in Coach Denning's first year at St. Thomas. Esten praised his wisdom and leadership:
"Coach Denning is a legend, not just in the St. Thomas baseball community, but the broader local and national baseball community, as well. The impact he had on thousands of people pervaded baseball, as we're all better human beings for having had the privilege of knowing Coach Denning. He'll be missed dearly, but his legacy lives in the impact he had on us all. Our most sincere condolences to his immediate family and the community that has been touched by his commitment to educating and mentoring through the game of baseball."
St. Thomas men's hoops coach Johnny Tauer played high school baseball at Cretin-Derham Hall for Coach Denning. Tauer said that experience has impacted his life and career:
"Dennis was truly a legend. I feel incredibly fortunate to have known him since I was a kid, when he and my dad were both coaching at Nativity Grade School. My dad always said that you could give Dennis a group of kids in any sport and he would help them find a way to win.
"His warm spirit, competitive joy, and love of working with kids was unmistakable. I attended his baseball camps, was close friends with his son Wes, and played for Dennis at CDH, where we won a state title. I liked playing baseball, but I loved playing baseball for Coach Denning!
"To this day, one of the mantras of our basketball program is "Dare to be Great." I learned that and so many other lessons from Dennis at a young age and vowed to try to instill a similar mindset when I became a coach."
"Dennis will be sorely missed but never forgotten. His legacy will live on through his family along with the thousands and thousands of people whose lives he impacted so positively."
Links
St. Thomas Magazine story on Dennis Denning, 2001 access HERE
Dennis Denning retirement press conference video, Dec. 2009, part 1
Dennis Denning retirement press conference video, Dec. 2009, part 2
A St. Paul native, Denning was known as an overachiever early in his baseball playing days. He once explained that he was cut in tryouts from some teams early in his Cretin High career, and made the baseball varsity as a senior in 1962. He later played sparingly as a freshman at St. Thomas in 1963, but he later worked himself into a college starting role, and rose to become a major-league draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles.
His minor-league baseball career with Baltimore was eventually halted by injuries just as he reached the Class AAA level, but Denning gave back to baseball and his hometown in a big way as a coach and teacher of the game.
At the University of St. Thomas (1995-2009) and Cretin-Derham Hall (1978-94), Denning combined to win 80 percent of his games with 901 victories.
Denning took the Tommie baseball program to new heights during his 15-year era here. His Tommie teams won NCAA Division III championships in 2001 and 2009 and claimed national runner-up finishes in 1999 and 2000.
Twice named NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year at St. Thomas, Denning's 522-157 overall record (.769 win percentage) was the best mark over his 15-year era among all NCAA Division III coaches. He had 12 players named Division III All-Americans, and four voted CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. Four of his players were selected in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft -- Jake Mauer, Buzz Hannahan, Chris Olean, and Tony Fischer.
In each of his last 14 seasons, the Tommies won either the regular-season or postseason title in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). His 1999 Tommie team was the first in conference history to make the D-III College World Series.
Prior to his Tommie coaching chapter, he was head coach for 17 seasons at nearby Cretin-Derham Hall High School. His Raider teams won six Minnesota state large-class championships, 15 St. Paul City Conference titles, and amassed a 379-76 record (.833).
Denning took St. Thomas baseball on an historic trip to Havana, Cuba in January 2000 -- only the third American professional or collegiate team to play in Cuba since Fidel Castro came to power nearly 40 years earlier. St. Thomas played two exhibition games against the University of Havana and hosted a return trip by a Cuban team in May 2000 that featured a game at Minneapolis' Metrodome.
Denning was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2012, and previously was inducted into the St. Thomas Athletic Hall of Fame for his undergraduate playing career in the mid-1960s. He was also a member of the Mancini's Hall of Fame in St. Paul.
Denning was head coach of the gold-medal winning U.S. North Squad in the 1989 Summer Olympic Festival.
He was a Dick Siebert Award winner and a past president of the Minnesota High School Baseball Coaches Association. He was Minnesota High School Coach of the Year four times, Region 3AA Coach of the Year seven times, and was a National High School Coach of the Year finalist three times.
Denning is survived by his wife Nancy; daughters Jamie McQuillan and Heather Krieger and spouses; son Wes and spouse; and 10 grandchildren. A celebration of his life is being planned and details will be announced when finalized.
Tributes
St. Thomas Baseball head coach Chris Olean was an All-America pitcher and later longtime assistant coach here under Dennis Denning. Olean called his coach a unique mentor, on and off the field.
"The baseball world lost a great coach and a better man today. Coach Denning was a once-in-a-lifetime leader of men. In reflecting back on my time with him as a player and assistant coach, his baseball knowledge and coaching skill was unmatched. He was able to squeeze every bit of talent out of his players, maximizing their strengths and instilling them with the belief that they could get the job done. As on on-field game manager he always seemed to push the right buttons at the right time. Whether it was a bunt, hit and run, or picking the perfect pinch hitter. At times it would seem as if he willed his teams to victory with that desire to win.
"He was an expert in common sense, and taught life lessons through baseball every day. He loved a challenge, loved to compete, and his players embraced that mindset. I can say with sincerity that I have never played harder for any coach in my entire career. He was not big on motivational speeches or gimmicks; he simply came to work every day and was more prepared than anyone he lined up against. He was authentically himself; his toughness, grit, and competitiveness were contagious, and his teams played that way. My biggest fear as a player and assistant coach was disappointing him. You knew how much he wanted it and the time and effort he put in to give us the best possible chance to succeed."
St. Thomas Vice-President and Director of Athletics Phil Esten played all four years with Tommie Baseball, including his senior season in Coach Denning's first year at St. Thomas. Esten praised his wisdom and leadership:
"Coach Denning is a legend, not just in the St. Thomas baseball community, but the broader local and national baseball community, as well. The impact he had on thousands of people pervaded baseball, as we're all better human beings for having had the privilege of knowing Coach Denning. He'll be missed dearly, but his legacy lives in the impact he had on us all. Our most sincere condolences to his immediate family and the community that has been touched by his commitment to educating and mentoring through the game of baseball."
St. Thomas men's hoops coach Johnny Tauer played high school baseball at Cretin-Derham Hall for Coach Denning. Tauer said that experience has impacted his life and career:
"Dennis was truly a legend. I feel incredibly fortunate to have known him since I was a kid, when he and my dad were both coaching at Nativity Grade School. My dad always said that you could give Dennis a group of kids in any sport and he would help them find a way to win.
"His warm spirit, competitive joy, and love of working with kids was unmistakable. I attended his baseball camps, was close friends with his son Wes, and played for Dennis at CDH, where we won a state title. I liked playing baseball, but I loved playing baseball for Coach Denning!
"To this day, one of the mantras of our basketball program is "Dare to be Great." I learned that and so many other lessons from Dennis at a young age and vowed to try to instill a similar mindset when I became a coach."
"Dennis will be sorely missed but never forgotten. His legacy will live on through his family along with the thousands and thousands of people whose lives he impacted so positively."
Links
St. Thomas Magazine story on Dennis Denning, 2001 access HERE
Dennis Denning retirement press conference video, Dec. 2009, part 1
Dennis Denning retirement press conference video, Dec. 2009, part 2
Press Conference: Tommie Football Postgame v Lindenwood 08/28/25
Friday, August 29
Tommie Football Intro Video 2025
Thursday, August 28
Beyond The Buzzer: Schoenecker Arena Setup
Wednesday, July 23
Beyond The Buzzer: Sports Medicine
Wednesday, July 23
