As football season gets underway there’s one man in the Ozarks that’s been to more week one games than anyone else.
That’s because he’s been coaching longer than many other area coaches have even been alive.
“He always says ‘I might get after you but I still love you,’” said Rogersville junior lineman Brayden Kent.
It’s a motto and a philosophy that’s half a century in the making as coach Dennis Darnell has spent almost all of his life coaching.
“It’s been my life passion and purpose,” said Rogersville offensive line coach Dennis Darnell.
Being on the sidelines is something he’s always wanted to do.
“I decided in the 7th grade I wanted to be a coach,” Darnell said.
After playing for Missouri State, then named Southwest Missouri State, from 1965-1969 Darnell jump right into coaching. Over the past 54 years, he’s coached at 15 different schools.
“I’ve coached at every level now except the professional level,” the longtime coach said.
After nine years at Evangel as the Offensive Coordinator, Darnell gave coach Mark Talbert a call to help lead the Wildcats.
“He came in and met with me and you just have that feeling that this guy is supposed to be here,” said Rogersville head football coach Mark Talbert.
In Darnell’s second season at Rogersville, he’s having a big impact on kids like Brayden Kent.
“Even at 6 a.m. in the morning, he is probably the first guy up in the weight room giving us motivation and telling us what we need to do,” said Kent.
“There’s going to be bad days, there’s going to be really good days, but those days are gone so get to the next day and make it the best it can be,” Darnell said.
Having that energy and relaying his passion in his mid-70s, he’s proving that age is just a number.
“I’m a younger head coach at 39, not super young but Darnell was doing this well before I was even thought of. That’s a wild thought,” Talbert said.
Darnell said he’d like to coach for 60 years, which would put him on the sidelines until he’s 80 years old.
