ROCKINGHAM — As a young boy, Brad Denson used to chase his father’s shadow at Rohanen Junior High School football practices in the early 1980s.
Then just a kid not old enough to start school, Denson didn’t realize at the time that the afternoons he spent running down footballs and tailing his dad Dale Denson would prove to be the beginning of a major cornerstone in his life.
Fast forward four decades later and the father and son have seen their respective roles somewhat switched.
Brad Denson grew up a Richmond Raider football icon, leading the team to consecutive 4A state titles in 1997 and 1998, all while never losing a single game in his high school career.
Dale Denson continued his prolific career as a local educator and coach, bouncing around from Rohanen and Hamlet junior high schools before eventually going to Richmond.
In February, Brad Denson was officially named the 12th head coach of Richmond Senior High School’s football program.
Now 10 weeks into his first season with the Raiders in his new role, Denson is one win away from securing a Sandhills Athletic Conference championship. And following behind his son on the sidelines on Friday nights is Dale.
While always family, the Densons have reunited on the football field as coaches this year. Dale Denson, who rejoined the coaching staff for the first time since 2005, aids the offense and works with the running backs.
“It’s been awesome to have my dad on the coaching staff,” Brad said. “Not everybody gets to coach with their dad at this level and it’s really special. I’ve played football with him as my coach, coached with him as an assistant and it’s crazy how it all flips around.
“Since Dad was last coaching, the game has evolved so much,” Brad continued. “As much as he knows about the game, he’s done a tremendous job with our running backs and learning how we run our offense.”
Dale Denson’s legacy as a coach in Richmond County, while still ongoing, is rooted in his success at Hamlet. He led the Red Rams’ football team to a 69-1 record and 10 consecutive conference titles during his tenure.
At that time, he also coached against Brad, who was then the quarterback at Rockingham Junior High School.
“I remember asking his mom (Pam Denson) to bring Brad out to practices at Rohanen just after he was born and that’s where it all started,” Dale shared. “He got into football and began playing recreationally in Hamlet.
“One week he was a guard, then a tight end and a fullback. The fourth week Brad played quarterback and that’s the position he played the rest of the way.
“When I was the ninth grade coach at Hamlet, I had a tough decision to make,” Dale continued. “I asked Brad if he wanted to play for me or stay at Rockingham and he said he ‘wanted to stay at Rockingham and beat (my) butt.’”
The 2000s saw Brad go off and play baseball at UNC-Wilmington, while Dale continued his 11-year stint at Richmond as an assistant until 2005.
Joining the world of public education in 2007, Denson moved back to his hometown in 2009 and joined Richmond’s baseball and football coaching staffs. From 2009 through the end of the 2021 football season, Brad served in a variety of roles, including offensive coordinator for the 2017-21 seasons.
As Brad’s father and No. 1 fan, Dale knew that when the time was right, Brad would catapult himself into the head role of the program his son helped make historically great.
“Brad mentioned the (Richmond) head coaching job years ago, and I thought he had a really good shot this time around,” Dale said.
“It gives me great pride to see him out there. He’s impressed me with his knowledge of the entire offense, and the whole game of football, and has done a great job.”
“It’s come full circle with me and my dad,” Brad explained. “Dad has helped me in so many different ways from learning the game, to being a good person and dealing with people.
“And because of his love and knowledge for the game, he catches things that I may miss,” he said. “When you get into this position as head coach, it never quits and it takes the whole staff to be successful. Dad’s not afraid to bring something up to me that other coaches may not want to.”
Brad added, “it’s great to have someone I can always trust in and know his ability in certain situations” on Friday nights.
As high school football in Richmond County continues to experience a surge in talent, excitement and coaching, the Densons understand the job isn’t finished. Both give credit to not only the players and staff, but the community for its outpouring of support.
In the hustle and bustle that is everything high school football, Dale and Brad have found moments, some big and some small, throughout the inaugural season that will be lasting memories.
“The first game was pretty special at Seventy-First,” Brad recalled. “It was for real for the first time and we had a hug just before the opening kickoff. That was really special.”
As the twilight of his coaching career glows, Dale hopes his son will remember some of the most important life lessons bestowed upon him as the first-year head coach hopes to see his career take flight.
“Sunday mornings in our house when he was a kid, Brad knew he was going to church,” Dale explained. “From that, I told him to treat people the way you want to be treated, and I’ve seen him do that as a coach. He treats the players like one of his who he loves and reminds them often of how hard they work and the sacrifices they’ve made.
“My advice to Brad is to give his best effort every day as head coach. I’ve learned a lot from him, too. And Brad knows a lot more about this game that I thought he knew, and I’m proud of him,” Dale closed with a grin.
The Densons and the Raiders (7-2, 5-0 SAC) will begin preparing for their regular season finale against Scotland High School next Friday, Nov. 1.
The home game, slated for 7:30 p.m., will also recognize Richmond’s senior players, cheerleaders, band and color guard members.