Denny Payne came to Hollins in the fall of 2022 as the volunteer assistant soccer coach. After the 22-23 season, Payne was promoted to Assistant Coach. joining head coach Kat Van Orden's staff on a full time basis.

Payne has played soccer since the age of four and started playing competitive travel soccer for the Roanoke stars at the age of eight. After relocating to Charlottesville, Denny played for the SOCA organization. He competed for the United states Olympic Development program at the state and regional levels as well as for the Champions League Select in the Super Y League. in 2002, Denny played one season for the D.C. United youth team.

In high school, Fluvanna County, Payne was a stand-out goalkeeper and was the first member of the Fluvanna boy's soccer program to earn all-district and all-state honors. After high school, he played semi-professional soccer for the Corpus Christi (TX) Fuel FC in the, now defunct, Southern Premiere Soccer League (SPSL) for two seasons.

Payne has coached all ages at the youth level, from U-6’s to U-18’s, for the Padre Hurricane’s out of Corpus Christi Texas. He have also trained players 1-on-1 and small groups as well as personal fitness training. coach Payne has pursued his coaching licenses and carries a USSF D License.