After coaching in District 5 since 1992, Mark Dennehy plans to return to his roots in Butte for the 1997-98 school year. On Feb. 16, Dennehy agreed to become the head football coach at Butte High School if he's offfered a teaching job there.
"It's not necessarily Butte," said Dennehy of his decision to leave FHS. "It's the Butte AA coaching position."
After his graduating from Butte High, Dennehy worked as a student teacher at the school. While there, he was the linebacker coach and was one of the wrestling coaches. The wrestling team won the state championship during Dennehy's stay.
Since coming to Flathead in 1992, Dennehy has continued coaching both wrestling and football. In 1994, Dennehy became the defensive coordinator for the FHS varsity football team.
"Coach Dennehy's going to do a good job," said Braves head football coach Bob Applegate. "He's an intelligent young man who's been around football for a long time. He'll do a good job as far as being a head coach and coaching. Once he gets some good people behind him, I think he can turn the program around."
If he is offered a teaching job there, Dennehy will begin his head coaching career with a team that was ranked near the bottom in the Western AA Conference in 1996.
"My primary goal, is to make (playing on the team) an enjoyable experience while the kids and coaches know what's expected of them," said Dennehy of his goals for next year.
Dennehy says he enjoys coaching because he "gets to work with students win, lose or draw."
"The greatest thing is the interaction," said Dennehy. "There's never a dull day. Someone will always make you laugh or make you get excited."
With four months remaining in Dennehy's years at FHS, the coach reminisces on past glories. One of the highlights of his career was the performance of the Braves football team last fall, says Dennehy.
Next year, Dennehy's Bulldogs will likely face Flathead in football action.
Said Dennehy of playing the Braves: "It'll be bittersweet. Their will be a lot of great kids looking across the sidelines."