Dennis "Coach" Snep

DENNIS SNEP

JERSEYVILLE - Dennis “Coach” Snep, 74, formerly of Belleville, passed away at 9:00 p.m., Sunday, February 7, 2021 in St. Louis, Missouri after a long battle with COVID-19. 

Dennis was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Ed and Mary Snep on September 23, 1946.  He attended Gage Park High School in Chicago, Illinois.  He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University, where he was a member of the football and wrestling programs.  Following his graduation from Southeast Missouri State University, he worked as a graduate assistant football coach at Illinois State University and received a Master’s degree in Physical Education in 1969.  In the Fall of 1969, he began his teaching and coaching career at Belleville Township High School East.  While at Belleville East, Coach Snep served as assistant football coach, assistant track coach, assistant wrestling coach, assistant girls basketball coach, assistant athletic director, athletic director, and head of the physical education department. He earned a Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1986. 

In 1998 he became the head football coach of Belleville Township High School West, where he served as head football coach and physical education teacher until his first retirement in 2007.  He continued coaching and mentoring young athletes at Washington University in St. Louis, where he served as assistant football coach and advisory role to the University’s football program from 2007 until 2018.  Coach also served as an assistant coach and consultant for the Jersey Community High School football program.  JCHS football coach and a former player of Coach Snep, Ric Johns, referred to him as the team’s “resident Yoda.”   

During his career and through retirement, Dennis served as a Trainer for the Jason Foundation, Founder of the “One-Eyed, Left-Handed Football Coaches Association,” Committee Member and Research Consultant to the IHSA Advisory Committee on Sports Medicine, Leader of the Belleville East High School Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and President of the St. Louis Metropolitan High School Football Coaches Association. Coach received the SIUE Excellence in Teaching Award in 2005, was inducted into the St. Louis Metropolitan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009, received the Eddie Cochems Award from the National Football Foundation, St. Louis -Tom Lombardo Chapter, in 2016, and inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2020.  He was the author of two books, “The Five Elements: A Leadership/Performance Model for Football Coaches” and “An Evaluation of the NFL’s Passer Rating System.”  He was a member of the Jerseyville United Methodist Church.

He married the love of his life, Margie Snep, on June 7, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois, and spent 52 years together.  They have been blessed with three children and eight grandchildren.  Surviving are his spouse, Margie; one son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Denise Snep of Lake Zurich, Illinois; two daughters and sons-in-law, Dr. Melinda and Scott Wilson of Lexington, Kentucky, and the Honorable Judge Allison Lorton and Laef Lorton of Jerseyville, Illinois; eight grandchildren Julia and Trevor Wilson, Tyler, Alyssa, and Nathan Snep, and Reese, Vanessa, and Tate Lorton; and one brother-in-law, Bill Codemo of Florida. 

Dennis is preceded in death by his parents (Ed and Mary Snep), his father-in-law (William Codemo), and his sister-in-law (Sandy Codemo).

Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m., Sunday, February 14, 2021 at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Jersey Community District 100 Foundation, Belleville East Athletics (Dennis Snep Memorial Award), or Belleville West Athletics (Dennis Snep Memorial Award).  

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