Dennison Takes Over as Wyoming’s New Strength Coach

Russell Dennison has been named the new Director of Sports Performance for the University of Wyoming Athletics Department.

Dennison will work directly with the Cowboy Football team in addition to directing the strength and conditioning staff for all of Wyoming’s sports teams. He's been the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the University of Oklahoma Football program the past five years.

He's been responsible for designing speed, strength and conditioning programs for the Sooner Football team since 2011. During his time coaching with the Sooners, Oklahoma won Big XII Championships in 2012 and 2015.  At the conclusion of the 2015 season, OU played in the College Football Playoff Semifinals versus Clemson in the Orange Bowl.

In a release from the University of Wyoming, Dennison said, “I’m very proud to join the Cowboy family and look forward to working with an outstanding group of athletes, coaches, trainers and administrators. It’s an exciting time to be a part of Wyoming Athletics. I’m eager to begin working with our staff to enhance the performance of our athletes.”

A former Sooner football player, Dennison was signed by OU out of Weatherford High School in Weatherford, Okla.  Dennison lettered four years at OU from 2002-05 as a fullback. He was part of OU teams that earned their way to three consecutive Big XII Championship games in 2002, 2003 and 2004, winning the Big XII title game in 2002 and 2004. The Sooners played in two consecutive BCS National Championship Games following the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

Dennison began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant strength and conditioning coach for football at the Air Force Academy in 2007-08. He returned to Oklahoma in 2008 to establish the strength and conditioning program at Tulsa Union High School.  In 2010, Dennison was nominated for the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s (NSCA) National High School Strength Coach of the Year. The next year, he accepted the assistant strength and conditioning position at his alma mater, OU.

The Weatherford, Okla., native was named the 2001 Oklahoma Class 4A Defensive Player of the Year at Weatherford High School.

Dennison will begin his new duties at Wyoming on Friday, Jan. 29. He replaces Zach Duval, who left for Central Florida last month.