Michael Dennehy (born June 13, 1950) is an American former football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Montana Western (1988–1990), the University of Montana (1996–1999), and Utah State University (2000–2004), compiling a career college football record of 68–62.

Playing career

As a safety on the Grizzlies' football team from 1971 to 1972, Dennehy earned first-team all-Big Sky Conference honors in 1972. He is tied for second in single-season Big Sky history with 10 interceptions in 1972, while leading the league that year, as well. Dennehy is tied for ninth in league history with 16 career interceptions.

Coaching career

Dennehy started his college coaching career as an assistant coach for Montana State before switching to coach at high school level for a number of years. He returned to college football coaching at the University of Montana Western, a small NAIA school, before moving on to become the offensive coordinator at the University of Montana. In 1996, he was promoted to head coach of the Montana Grizzlies, but left following the 1999 season to take at post as the head coach of Utah State, replacing Dave Arslanian. In 2005 Dennehy was fired as head coach of Utah State after compiling a record of 19–37.

Dennehy became athletics director at Jefferson High School in Boulder, Montana in 2006. Dennehy resigned after the 2006–07 school year.

Head coaching record

College

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs
Montana Western Bulldogs (Frontier Conference) (1988–1990)
1988Montana Western1–51–5T–3rd
1989Montana Western4–42–43rd
1990Montana Western5–33–3T–2nd
Montana Western:10–126–12
Montana Grizzlies (Big Sky Conference) (1996–1999)
1996Montana14–18–01stL NCAA Division I-AA Championship
1997Montana8–46–22ndL NCAA Division I-AA First Round
1998Montana8–46–21stL NCAA Division I-AA First Round
1999Montana9–37–11stL NCAA Division I-AA First Round
Montana:39–1227–5
Utah State Aggies (Big West Conference) (2000)
2000Utah State5–64–12nd
Utah State Aggies (NCAA Division I-A independent) (2001–2002)
2001Utah State4–7
2002Utah State4–7
Utah State Aggies (Sun Belt Conference) (2003–2004)
2003Utah State3–93–34th
2004Utah State3–82–59th
Utah State:19–379–9
Total:68–61
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth