NEW ULM — New Ulm boys’ basketball coach Matt Dennis has plenty of experience coaching basketball.

“I have coached all levels of basketball, boys and girls,” Dennis said. “I was the head boys’ basketball coach in L’Anse, Michigan for three years and two years for the girls.”

Dennis now teaches middle school social studies at Hancock (Michigan) High School where he is also the JV girls’ basketball coach. Dennis will teach high school social studies at New Ulm High School.

Dennis said that his style of basketball is intense and also defensive-minded.

“We are going to have to play defense,” he said.

Dennis said that making the geographic and job change from Michigan to Minnesota was to come back nearer to his roots.

“I grew up in Minneapolis — my dad and brother went to the University of Minnesota, and I always wanted to get back to the area,” he said. “When we looked into towns New Ulm seemed like a good fit for my wife, Emily and four children.”

Dennis is coming to a basketball program where there have been four head coaches in as many years.”

“Programs strive with being stable and to do the same things at the different levels,” Dennis said. “It sounds like it is a necessity there. I want to build something and see things go in a positive direction and see where we can take it.”

Dennis said that he is a passionate coach.

“One area where I do have success is I am demanding out of the kids but I am also on their side,” he said. “They will see passion out of me and I expect to see passion out of them. A player has to understand where a coach is coming from so that a player can buy into the program.”