“The more he talked, the more I listened and the more I started to get excited about Guilford,” says Dennis.

Seventeen years and more than 350 student athletes later, Dennis is stepping down as the Quaker’s coach. He’s just as excited about the program and the women he coached – “I’d stay here forever if I could,” he says – but he wants to help an ill family member back home in Pennsylvania.

Dennis came to the College's convocation in August to say goodbye to his players. They gathered on the steps outside Dana Auditorium to say goodbye. Dennis says he might help the new coach as a volunteer, but he says it wouldn’t be fair to continue as the head coach. “It’s been a good run, but I’ll always be here for the team in some capacity,” he says.

Only men’s basketball coach Tom Palombo, who will coach his 21st year at the College, and volleyball coach Emily Gann (18) have been around as long as Dennis in the Quakers’ Athletic Department. Dennis took over the softball program prior in 2007 and quickly turned around a sagging program. Within his first five seasons, he led Guilford to 20 or more wins four times. In 2017, the Quakers hit the 30-win mark for the first time in program history. He finished with a career record of 349-300-4.

Dennis says he’ll miss the competition, sure, but mostly he’ll miss the players. “They came here as girls and left as young women,” he says. “I’ve been to their weddings, I’ve seen their babies. You can’t beat all those memories.”