College football: Wadsworth native Jim Dennison dies at 87

Wadsworth native Jim Dennison, one of Northeast Ohio's most legendary football coaches who recruited dozens of Medina County stars to play for him at the University of Akron and Walsh University, died Sunday at the age of 87. Known for his "Positive Mental Attitude" philosophy, Dennison coached the Zips from 1973-85 and led them to the 1975 Division II national championship game, where they lost to 24-13 to Montana State in the Pioneer Bowl. Dennison compiled a 80-62-2 record and was replaced by former Notre Dame coach Gerry Faust in lieu of Akron transitioning to the Division I-A level, but he remained with the school as assistant athletic director. Dennison then built the Walsh program from the ground up beginning in 1993, going 119-77 before retiring in 2012. In total, Dennison amassed a 208-139-2 record that included a 9-0 season at Copley in 1964. The most notable branch of the 1956 Wadsworth graduate's coaching tree is multi-time national champion and former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, who was a graduate assistant under Dennison from 1975-78. Another notable assistant was former longtime Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, Akron's defensive backs coach in 1985. That extends to family, as well. Dennison's son Greg is Medina County's winningest coach with a 226-99 record between Wadsworth and Buckeye, while new GlenOak coach Matt Dennison boasts a 191-83 mark after stops at Uhrichsville Claymont, New Philadelphia and Canton South. Along with sons Greg (Ann), Matt (Beth) and Jim (Karen) and daughter Denise (Mike) Morrow, Jim Dennison is survived by wife Sue, 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Calling hours will be Thursday from 2-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. at Auble-Hilliard-Rospert Funeral Home in Wadsworth, while the funeral service will be 11 p.m. Friday at The Chapel in Wadsworth. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Jim and Sue Dennison Scholarship at the University of Akron. Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com.