“There are some who bring a light so great to the world, that even after they have gone, the light remains.”
Scott Dennis, a respected football coach, educator, and colleague, sadly passed away on August 20, 2024. Football was one of his main passions, always watching football, coaching football, and listening to football. For over 30 years, Dennis had been coaching football at numerous local high schools. He was an active member of the Wyoming Valley Football Coaches Association. Dennis was an inspiring mentor to those on and off the football field.
This football season was going to be Dennis’s first year as head coach at the Greater Nanticoke Area High School. He previously served as a defensive and offensive coordinator for the Trojans before taking over the program earlier this year. Dennis was a long-time assistant coach at Berwick and then a head coach at Holy Redeemer and Central Columbia High School. He coached Jared Verse at Central Columbia. Verse was the Ram’s first-round NFL Draft pick this past NFL draft, coming out of Florida State University.
Dennis was a 1988 graduate of Nanticoke Area and was the school’s attendance officer. During his time as a Trojan, he was a star at offensive guard and defensive end. He loved his dogs, having over 25 in his life, along with his current dog, Rosie. He was a former member of the Susquehanna Valley Beagle Club. For his entire life, Dennis was a member of St. John’s U.C.C. Church, where he served as an interim pastor. He was married to Lori Dennis and had two sons and a grandson, whom he loved.
To honor Coach Dennis, the football team pushed forward to play their game against North Pocono on August 23.
“We decided to play this game primarily because we knew that’s what Scott would want, and when we put it to the kids, they agreed,” said Bob Ashton, Greater Nanticoke Area assistant coach.
The Nanticoke Trojans played with their focus on the game, knowing that’s what Dennis would want.
“This is what coach would want; he wouldn’t want us to focus on him; he’d want us to focus on the game,” said Treston Allen, Captain.
Coach Dennis wanted to be at his alma mater for his last years of coaching. It is the place where his love of the game developed and grew, eventually molding him into a beloved coach and admired colleague. Even though he couldn’t complete them, he had great expectations for the future of the team and the time he had spent preparing the Nanticoke Trojans for this football season was not in vain. He left an impact on his players that will help them to grow and become the best players they can be.
Everything for Coach Dennis.
