Dennis Coyne

Executive Coach

Advancing Leadership Institute

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Dennis coaches leaders to be resilient, resourceful and powerful in these days of change and frequent challenge.  He supports his clients in taking effective action in their lives, and to assume positions of leadership.  As well, Dennis works with organizations, both private and public, to develop and sustain their leaders, create effective teams and achieve results.

In 2000, Dennis was certified by the Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara as a professional coach.  And in 2007, Dennis received a second coaching certification, issued by the Strozzi Institute.  Before becoming a coach, Dennis practiced law for more than thirty-five years, in both the public and private sectors.  He’s been included in Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who in American Law, Leading American Attorneys, and has been recognized as a Super Lawyer.  Dennis earned his B.A. in psychology at the University of Minnesota and his J.D. from the Villanova University School of Law.  Becoming a career coach was the result of Dennis’ desire to combine his interest in people with his training and experience as a lawyer, and his undergraduate education in psychology. 

Today, Dennis works principally as a coach, consultant and facilitator.  He also serves as adjunct faculty in the Masters of Arts program in Human Development at St. Mary’s College, and is a regular columnist for The Complete Lawyer.

Dennis lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Deni.  They enjoy traveling, including visits to their children in San Francisco and Boston.  For many years, Dennis ran marathons and did long-distance biking.  These days, most of his biking is indoors, doing spin classes.  He also enjoys poetry, and uses poetry to challenge and inspire his clients.  One of his favorite poets is Ella Wheeler Wilcox.  In Winds of Fate, she uses the metaphor of sailing to challenge us to take effective action in the tumult of everyday living:  

One ship drives east and another drives west
With the self-same winds that blow.
   ’Tis the set of the sails
   And not the gales
That tells them the way to go.