Almost immediately after the announcement last week that Dennis Denning would retire Feb. 1, the legendary University of St. Thomas baseball coach received six employment offers.

Three were from colleges offering him assistant baseball jobs, one each was from a high school offering him an assistant tennis coaching job, a St. Paul pub offering him a bartending job and an auto repair shop offering him an auto mechanic job.

Denning doesn't know a carburetor from a steering wheel, but it's a sure thing, had he accepted the mechanic offer, before long he'd be among the best in the business. He has passion.

"Passion and knowledge of the game and commitment, and I'm big into loyalty," Denning said.

For 53 of his 65 years on earth, Denning has coached, at various levels, baseball. And won mightily. The Division III collegiate records show 522 victories and just 157 defeats. That includes two national championships formed in chilly Minnesota and four trips to national championship games. At Cretin-Derham Hall, the records show 379 victories, 76 defeats. Included are six state championships.

Mammoth numbers. And there were hundreds of other coaching triumphs by Denning's St. Paul youth baseball teams before he moved to high school and college competition.

Winning has never been about Denning, though. He coached for his players. And he made certain they knew there was more to life than just baseball.

"Division I and Division II schools give (baseball)

scholarships," Denning said. "You know what my scholarship is? It's 'You know what, kid? You're going to get a great education here. And you know what, kid? You're going to graduate here, and you're going to get a great start on a career.'

"That's better than any scholarship anyone else can get."

Denning receives, from services promoting prospective baseball players and from other sources of recommendations, at least 50 e-mails a week all year long. One year, he kept track — he received some 1,900 e-mails and inquiries from people pushing baseball prospects to him.

The NCAA allows 24 rostered players.

"I ask them, 'Why do you want to come to St. Thomas; what's the most important thing about St. Thomas to you?' " Denning said. "They tell me baseball. And I come right back and tell them, 'Then you shouldn't come here.' I try to get the guys who have the right perspective."

Denning will walk away after 53 years of coaching baseball. I asked Denning how St. Thomas can replace him.

"Everybody can be replaced," he said.

He's wrong.