UPDATE: Coach Dennis has returned home.

COVID-19 has not only impacted lives around the globe, but has also touched the Grandview community. Robert Dennis, a girls basketball coach, fell ill with the virus.

Coach Dennis is a coach who helps encourage his athletes to do the best that they can do.

“Coach Dennis has improved me by pushing me to be the best that I can be and taking advantage of every moment,”  said Sophomore Marya Hudgins, who plays guard on the team.

He is a great coach that helps the girls on and off the court.

“Coach Dennis knows the game really well and has helped with some of the strategy that we use in the game,” said forward, Addison O’Grady.

Coach Dennis is full of life and helps bring smiles and memories to the team during practice.

“My favorite memory of Coach Dennis is when he brought his dog to practice,” said Hudgins.

With the stress of having a coach in the hospital, the team has come together to try and bring some positivity to the situation. 

“We have decided to film short videos of encouragement for Coach Dennis and put them all together for him to see,” said O’Grady.

While most people are doing their part in social distancing, not everyone is fully committed to staying inside and away from people.

“To people who aren’t taking it seriously I would say they need to start taking it seriously soon,” said Hudgins. “It is taking people’s lives, plus if we distance ourselves from everyone this virus could start to go away sooner than later.”

Coach Dennis is currently off of a ventilator and is able to breathe on his own.

For Fox 31’s story, click here.