Illinois Wesleyan

Retiring in July 2015 as athletic director, Dennie Bridges’ association with Illinois Wesleyan began when he enrolled as a student in 1957. Bridges retired in March 2001 after 36 seasons as basketball coach with a career record of 667-319, second most all-time among NCAA Division III coaches. His 1997 team was 29-2 and won the Division III championship, while his 1996 (28-3) and 2001 (24-7) teams each placed third nationally. His teams won 17 conference championships and qualified for the Division III playoffs 14 times in 18 seasons.  Since Bridges became athletic director (1981), the Shirk Center, Fort Natatorium and Jack Horenberger Baseball Field have been built, as well as new facilities for soccer and softball. Bridges, who graduated in 1961 and began his IWU coaching career in 1964, earned letters in basketball, baseball and football and was all-conference in basketball and football as an IWU player.
Bridges and his wife, Rita, have three grown children (Angie, Steve, Eric), all IWU graduates and former Titan athletes.

Why you chose Illinois Wesleyan: Sports – only had two offers, Illinois Wesleyan or Illinois State Normal University
 
IWU class you’re most qualified to teach: Basketball Coaching – although I once taught Folk, Social and Square Dance
 
The hardest challenge about being a Division III student-athlete is: Truly being Division iII - balance
 
Worst grade in a class you ever got – what and when? F in botany freshman year … Dr. Dorothea Franzen
 
I’m deathly afraid of ... :  Birds
 
Worst habit: Losing my glasses
 
Most expensive traffic ticket: $150+
 
The longest I could survive without my cell phone: Sadly, not long
 
One word your mother or father would use to describe you: Competitive
 
Favorite sports figures: Arnold Palmer and Mickey Mantle
 
My greatest moment in sports was: Watching Mia Smith win the national championship and beat cancer in the same year
 
The best player I ever faced was: Jake Gibbs, shortstop from Ole Miss
 
People I’m dying to have dinner with: Ingrid Bergman, Angie Dickinson, Debra Winger, Penelope Cruz, Jennifer Aniston, Rachel McAdams
 
Favorite food: Bacon
 
Vegetable I won’t eat: None
 
Pepsi or Coke? Neither
 
Favorite TV show: “Seinfeld”
 
Favorite musical group: Eagles
 
Favorite movie: “Cool Hand Luke” or “Casablanca”
 
If a movie were made of my life, I would like the following person to play me: Paul Newman
 
If my life were on TV as a reality show, I’d call it: “Lucky”
 
The person in history I would most like to meet is: John F. Kennedy
 
My dream job would be: Shortstop for the New York Yankees
 
Place I’d most like to live: St. Andrews, Scotland, for one year
 
Thing that tops my “bucket list”: Play golf at Augusta
 
Who is the luckiest person in the world? Stew Salowitz
 
What I miss most about being in the third grade: Recess