Staff Directory
Cort Dennison
- Title:
- Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Cort Dennison, Oregon State’s co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach is in his first season in 2026, arriving in Corvallis after leading one of the Big Sky Conference’s top defenses at Idaho and previous stops at Missouri State, Utah, Louisville and Oregon.
Dennison came to Oregon State after serving as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Idaho in 2025. He previously coached linebackers at Missouri State in 2024 and served as a defensive quality control assistant at Utah in 2023.
Coaching Highlights
• Directed a 2025 Idaho defense that earned PFF grades ranking first in the Big Sky Conference in rushing defense (92.9) and second in total defense (90.5); the unit also finished third in the conference in total defense (382.5 ypg) and fourth in scoring defense (26.4 ppg)
• Coached Idaho linebacker Isiah King to unanimous First Team All-Big Sky Conference honors in 2025 (79 tackles, three sacks) and Dylane Lane to All-Conference Honorable Mention recognition (88 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss)
• Coached Louisville linebacker Dorian Etheridge to ESPN Freshman All-America honors after posting a team-high 83 tackles in 2017
• Helped Oregon to a 2018 Redbox Bowl championship as outside linebackers coach, mentoring NFL Draft selections Justin Hollins and Jalen Jelks — both First Team All-Pac-12 honorees
Coaching Career
• Oregon State (2026-present) — Co-Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
• Idaho (2025) — Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
• Missouri State (2024) — Linebackers
• Utah (2023) — Defensive Quality Control Assistant
• Louisville (2019-21) — Defensive Coordinator
• Oregon (2018) — Outside Linebackers
• Louisville (2014-17) — Defensive Graduate Assistant (2014); Director of On-Campus Recruiting (2015); Assistant Secondary Coach / Recruiting Coordinator (2016); Inside Linebackers / Co-Special Teams Coordinator (2017)
Playing Career & Education
• Started all 13 games at inside linebacker as a senior at Washington in 2011, posting 128 tackles and earning All-Pac-12 Second Team honors
• Recorded 15 tackles in the Alamo Bowl against Baylor
• A standout tight end and linebacker at Judge Memorial High School in Salt Lake City, where he was named Utah Athlete of the Year by the Salt Lake Tribune as a senior
• Bachelor’s degree in communications from Washington (2011); master’s degree in sports administration from Louisville (2015)
Personal
Dennison is a native of Salt Lake City.
Dennison came to Oregon State after serving as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Idaho in 2025. He previously coached linebackers at Missouri State in 2024 and served as a defensive quality control assistant at Utah in 2023.
Coaching Highlights
• Directed a 2025 Idaho defense that earned PFF grades ranking first in the Big Sky Conference in rushing defense (92.9) and second in total defense (90.5); the unit also finished third in the conference in total defense (382.5 ypg) and fourth in scoring defense (26.4 ppg)
• Coached Idaho linebacker Isiah King to unanimous First Team All-Big Sky Conference honors in 2025 (79 tackles, three sacks) and Dylane Lane to All-Conference Honorable Mention recognition (88 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss)
• Coached Louisville linebacker Dorian Etheridge to ESPN Freshman All-America honors after posting a team-high 83 tackles in 2017
• Helped Oregon to a 2018 Redbox Bowl championship as outside linebackers coach, mentoring NFL Draft selections Justin Hollins and Jalen Jelks — both First Team All-Pac-12 honorees
Coaching Career
• Oregon State (2026-present) — Co-Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
• Idaho (2025) — Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
• Missouri State (2024) — Linebackers
• Utah (2023) — Defensive Quality Control Assistant
• Louisville (2019-21) — Defensive Coordinator
• Oregon (2018) — Outside Linebackers
• Louisville (2014-17) — Defensive Graduate Assistant (2014); Director of On-Campus Recruiting (2015); Assistant Secondary Coach / Recruiting Coordinator (2016); Inside Linebackers / Co-Special Teams Coordinator (2017)
Playing Career & Education
• Started all 13 games at inside linebacker as a senior at Washington in 2011, posting 128 tackles and earning All-Pac-12 Second Team honors
• Recorded 15 tackles in the Alamo Bowl against Baylor
• A standout tight end and linebacker at Judge Memorial High School in Salt Lake City, where he was named Utah Athlete of the Year by the Salt Lake Tribune as a senior
• Bachelor’s degree in communications from Washington (2011); master’s degree in sports administration from Louisville (2015)
Personal
Dennison is a native of Salt Lake City.
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