Dennis began his career at Sonora High School where he was team captain for three years, placing third in the Northern CIF Championships in 1959. In 1961, he went on to San Bernardino Junior College where he was again team captain, earning a 3rd at the Junior College State Championships. After transferring to San Diego State University, he was team captain for two years, and he was a CCAA Champion in 1962. He also placed 4th in the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Championships. In 1965, Dennis began his coaching career with Bob Smith at San Bernardino Valley College. He then served as an Assistant Coach to Leigh Frye at the University of California-Riverside in 1966-67. That led to his 24 years of coaching at Rubidoux High School in Riverside, California (1968-1992). Dennis officiated for 34 years at every level from high school to international competition, and he ean1ed a F.I.L.A. and pairing masters license in 1971. He also worked many AAU and USA Wrestling events and tournaments at the local association, State and National levels. This included all ages from World Schoolboy, World Junior Championships and Espoir World Championships to the Open/Senior and Masters divisions of competition in all styles of Freestyle, Greco-Roman and Sambo wrestling. He has officiated at both High School and Community College State Wrestling Championships. He was the Instructional Chairman for the Inland Empire Section for many years. As a FILA official, Dennis was asked to accompany local teams on cultural wrestling exchanges as an assistant coach and/or official to Japan, Canada and twice to New Zealand. He hosted teams, too. Dennis officiated at World meets, U.S. Olympics Trials, and the Commonwealth Games. He was on the competition staff for the 1984 Olympic Games in the Anaheim arena.