Denney and Barrett first began skating together in 2006, but the partnership did not last. They teamed up again in 2008 and began competing in the 2008-09 season. Based on their good performance during the summer non-qualifying competitions, Denney and Barrett were assigned to the 2008 Nebelhorn Trophy, where they placed 4th. They won the 2009 Eastern Sectionals to qualify for the national championships. Denney/Barrett won the silver medal at the 2009 U.S. Nationals. They placed sixth at the 2009 Four Continents. The following season they won the U.S. national title and the right to compete at the Olympics, where they finished 13th. During the pairs short program at the 2010 Olympics, they became the first team to land a throw triple Lutz jump at any Winter Olympic competition. They placed 7th at the 2010 World Championships. At the 2011 U.S. Nationals, they won the bronze medal and were assigned to compete at Four Continents, however they were forced to withdraw; Denney accidentally sliced Barrett's calf on his right leg while practicing side-by-side jumps. Denney and Barrett ended their partnership in February 2011.
Partnership with Coughlin
2011–2012 season
On May 17, 2011, Denney announced that she had teamed up with John Coughlin. They train under coach Dalilah Sappenfield at the Broadmoor Skating Club in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Denney having relocated from Wesley Chapel, Florida after splitting from her previous partner. Denney and Coughlin have a height difference of 14 inches. They made their competitive debut at the Liberty Summer competition in July 2011, winning the short program. At the Nebelhorn Trophy they won the bronze medal. They were assigned to the 2011 Skate America and 2011 NHK Trophy, where they placed fourth and fifth respectively. Denney/Coughlin went on to win the 2012 US Championships and were assigned to Four Continents and Worlds. They won the silver medal at the 2012 Four Continents and then placed eighth at 2012 Worlds.
2012–2013 season
Denney/Coughlin made their season debut at the 2012 Nebelhorn Trophy, winning the silver medal. They won bronze medals at both of their Grand Prix assignments, the 2012 Skate America and the 2012 Rostelecom Cup. On December 4, 2012, Coughlin underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip. As a result, the pair missed the 2013 U.S. Championships but they submitted a petition to be considered for the U.S. team to the 2013 World Championships. They were named in the U.S. team to the event but decided not to compete. Coughlin was off the ice for about nine weeks.
