Football

Zach Dennis, the longest tenured member of the Wooster football coaching staff at 14 seasons, enters his ninth season as the offensive coordinator, having been promoted in 2015. He also works directly with the quarterbacks and was previously the program's recruiting coordinator.

Previously, Dennis has coached Wooster’s offensive line (2014) and wide receivers (2010-13), mentoring six different players to all-conference honors as a position coach, including two apiece in 2014 (Nick Flannery, Michael McCants), 2013 (Darrian Owens, Justin Rice), and 2012 (Jordan McIntyre, Justin Rice).

Most impressive, Dennis helped design an offense that set five school records during the 2013 season. Implementing a creative playbook with a fast-paced spread offense, the Fighting Scots fielded their most productive unit in several years as they averaged 30.6 points and a team-record 443.6 yards. The other records that were broken were first downs (22.6 per game), pass efficiency rating (140.95), passing yards (2,365), and total plays (79.0 per game).

In 2018, Dennis’ offense averaged 37.8 points per Saturday, a total in the top-25 in Div. III, and the team’s 456.3 yards per game went for a top-30 showing nationally. Wooster broke or matched 28 offensive records on the gridiron in 2017, while individually senior Gary Mutean and sophomore Nick Strausbaugh were tabbed as the North Coast Athletic Conference’s Player and Newcomer of the Year, respectively. For his efforts, Dennis was selected as the Mike Cleary Northeastern Ohio Chapter of the National Football Foundation’s College Assistant Coach of the Year.

The Scots have earned 27 all-conference certificates during Dennis’ eight years as the offensive coordinator, and Wooster's had the first-team All-NCAC quarterback twice in the last five years all-conference honors have been awarded.

Dennis excelled as a receiver at fellow NCAC school Ohio Wesleyan University, as the three-year starter rolled up 1,913 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Battling Bishops from 2004-07. He ranked second in school history in receiving yardage upon graduation, and as a senior, he was voted second-team All-NCAC and ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District.

After graduating from Ohio Wesleyan, Dennis went to LaGrange College in LaGrange, Ga., where he was the running backs coach for two seasons, helping the Panthers to the 2008 NCAA Div. III Championships after they won the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The Jefferson, Ohio, native completed his bachelor’s degree in sport management at Ohio Wesleyan and a master’s degree in teaching at LaGrange.

Dennis and his wife, Heather, reside in Wooster, and are parents to twins, Bode and Crew.