Denning balances two teams, two majors

[quicktime]https://www.obusignal.com/video/alexdenning.mov[/quicktime]

As he runs from the practice field to the game field, conducting two practices at the same time, it is clear that Alex Denning is devoted to Ouachita’s soccer program.

Denning came to Ouachita in 2003 as a member of the men’s soccer team, but a torn ACL kept him on the sidelines. In the spring of 2008, just when Denning was getting ready to graduate, he became heavily involved in helping keep Ouachita’s soccer program alive. When Ouachita President Dr. Rex Horne and Director of Athletics David Sharp offered a coaching position to him, Denning stayed.

[podcast]https://www.obusignal.com/podcasts/soccer.mp3[/podcast]

“I’ve always wanted to coach,” Denning said. “I coached for a while in high school and a college team in Canada. So I jumped on [the coaching position] real quick and started taking over.”

While he completes a double major in political science and sociology, Denning is also the head coach for the men’s and women’s soccer teams. But holding practices from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. for the men and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. for the women is not all Denning does.

“I do a lot of office work, scheduling games, setting up for referees to be here, figuring out where our mistakes were previously and changing those,” Denning said.

In addition, the teams provide separate challenges that Denning faces head on.

“I like coaching the girls a whole lot because they listen so well because I’m an authority figure to them,” Denning said. “It’s easy to get them to start playing the way I want them to play.”

While the majority of the women’s team is new, the men’s team contains primarily seasoned players.

“The men have great talent,” Denning said. “It’s hard to get them on board but when they are they work really hard for it. There’s a lot more potential for how far they can go this season.”

Members from both teams recognize and appreciate the hard work Denning puts in.

“I respect him for the hard work and dedication he’s put into keeping this program going,” said Brittany Vick, women’s midfield and forward.

“He’s very encouraging and gives more positive than negative in constructive criticism,” said Barry McCaskill, men’s midfield and defense player.

Denning’s favorite part of coaching is seeing improvement after he’s made changes on the field.

“When you make a sub and they go in and score, or when you make a defense stronger, it’s really nice seeing that,” Denning said.

Despite low expectations for both teams, Denning has kept the teams’ spirits high by having them play for each other. And even though the season has just begun, both teams have already exceeded others’ expectations.

“The women weren’t expected to score a goal this season,” Denning said. “Just the fact that we have beaten one team that’s been around for a few years and have taken a conference team to overtime, it’s beyond any expectations.”

Beyond that Denning has led the teams in making their own goals and holding themselves to higher standards and challenges.

Denning had the women’s team come in and set personal goals for their academic, individual and athletic lives. For the men’s team, Denning said knowing that they should be ranked higher is what motivates them.

“With the men, they really do want the results and to show that they’re better than most of the teams in the conference,” Denning said. “Our goals are to have the best season in OBU’s history and to go to the conference tournament in Pensacola.”

Denning does not know whether he will be asked to return as the head coach after this season, but the support of his players speaks for the success he has already had.

“I’d like for him to stay longer because everyone is comfortable with him,” said Haley Barron, women’s defensive player and co-captain. “It’s hard to get used to a new coach, so he’d give us a good basis instead of starting over again.”