Dennis Lawson graduated in 1973 from Potosi High School and later Southeast Missouri State with a B.S. in Education. He returned to his alma mater, Potosi High School in 1978 and began his 31 year teaching and coaching career. Dennis was blessed with many talented players that led to an overall record of 273 wins and 155 losses. During his nineteen years as the Trojan head coach, the team won twelve conferences titles, seven district championships, five sectional titles, a fourth place in state playoffs 1998, and two state first place titles in 1994 and1996. Coach Lawson was awarded the Coach of the Year in both 1994 and 1996. He was also honored as the J-98 Dream Team, Coach of the Year on four separate occasions. Coach Lawson was inducted into the Missouri Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2012.