A legend in the baseball community and one most successful coach of any sport in history at Cretin/Cretin-Derham Hall, legendary coach Dennis Denning ’62 passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning . He was 78 at the time of his death.

 Denning was the head coach for the Raiders baseball program for 17 years (1978-1994) and developed our baseball program into a state powerhouse winning six state championships, 15 conference championships while amassing a win/loss record of 379-76 as well as serving as the school athletic director.

Coach Denning departed CDH to become head coach of the University of St. Thomas, a program he led for 15 seasons where he guided the Tommies to two national championships and a career win/loss record of 522-157 before retiring in 2009.

The impact that Denning had on and off the field will aways be remembered.

 "I had the privilege of playing for Dennis since I was 8 years old in his legendary summer camps.” said Raiders Head Coach Buzz Hannahan ’94 “In addition, I saw him adapt and morph into the NCAA HOF coach when I followed him from CDH to St. Thomas. 

“It didn't matter if you were the best kid on the team or the 20th on his roster he was going to coach you up for you to be the best player your ability allowed you to be. Coaching baseball on the field he coached life seasons to prepare you for the real world and your future career. He was so special and will be missed."

Coach Denning was also head coach of the Gold Medal winning North Squad in the 1989 Summer Olympic Festival.

Denning is a past Dick Siebert Award winner and a past president of the 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  a member of the Cretin-Derham Hall Hall of Fame, St. Thomas Athletic Hall of Fame, ABCA Hall of Fame and Mancini's St. Paul Athletic Hall of Fame.