Joe Denney joined the Bridgewater College football staff ahead of the 2023 season as the tight ends and running backs coach.
In his first year working with the running game, Denney elevated the team to one of its best rushing seasons in team history behind Kennedy Fauntleroy who rushed for 1,348 yards and 17 touchdowns. Fauntleroy was the first player for BC to finish at over 1,000 yards since 2014 and placed himself in the record books for single-season marks in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Denney's rushing unit saw three of the top five best single-game team totals in history with 360 yards against Hampden-Sydney, 345 net yards against N.C. Wesleyan and 342 yards against Ferrum. Bridgewater ranked 32nd in the nation in rushing yards per game at 200.3 yards per game.
Denney comes to Bridgewater after spending the spring season at NCAA Division II Ohio Dominican where he was the tight ends coach. Denney served as an offensive coordinator for the Panthers during their annual spring game earlier this year. Prior to his time at the DII ranks, Denney mentored the tight ends and running backs at Kenyon, a DIII institution also located in Ohio. While in Gambier, Ohio, the Owls ranked 24th in the nation in total offense and passing offense, while the team set a school record with 248 first downs.
Prior to hitting the college ranks, Denney led the tight ends and was the assistant offensive line coach at Westerville Central High School for a year and mentored wide receivers, tight ends and led quality control efforts for Naperville Central High School for a pair of seasons. Denney started his coaching career at Carlsbad High School in California where he spent three years across multiple roles. In total, Denney saw 12 all-conference players with four conference championships and four playoff appearances.
In addition to coaching, Denney served our country for seven years in the United States Marine Corps. He holds a sports management degree from North Central and a masters in sports coaching from Ohio State.
