Dennis Lee joined the Hamline University football coaching staff as the defensive coordinator in 2026.
Lee brings extensive coaching experience at the high school, collegiate, and Division I levels. Prior to Hamline, he served as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Carleton College, where his defensive unit ranked among the top four in the conference in 2021 and held opponents to fewer than 100 rushing yards of rushing per game. During his time at Carleton, the defensive line also finished in the top four in total sacks, marking a significant improvement from previous seasons.
Lee began his coaching career at the high school level in Minnesota, where he spent 10 seasons from 2005 to 2015 before transitioning to the collegiate ranks in 2016. His collegiate experience includes a stop as a defensive intern at the University of Minnesota, where he was part of a 10–2 team that defeated Auburn in the Outback Bowl and finished the season ranked No. 10 in the AP Poll.
Additional coaching stops include Abilene Christian University at the Division I FCS level. In 2024, Lee was selected as a recipient of the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the New York Jets, where he spent a month working with special teams and the defensive line.
