Bennett has proven he can win in any era of college basketball. During a six-year span from 2008-2013, Saint Mary’s won 25 or more games, one of only four programs nationally (Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas) to have achieved that feat.
University Credit Union Pavilion emerged as one of the toughest places to play during Bennett’s tenure. Saint Mary’s is 319-62 (.837) over the past 23 seasons at home, including a 199-26 (.884) record in the last 13 years.
Saint Mary’s has been to at least the semifinals of the WCC Tournament in 23 of Bennett’s 25 seasons, which includes 14 WCC Tournament Final appearances. He led the Gaels to the WCC Tournament Title in 2010, 2012, 2019, and 2024.
Bennett has had 51 players earn All-WCC recognition, with 42 First-Team and nine Honorable Mention selections. Additionally, Bennett has guided six players to WCC Defensive Player of the Year awards. Several Gaels have gone on to have impactful professional careers following their time with Bennett. Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova, Jock Landale, Augustas Marciulionis, Mickey McConnell, and Omar Samhan are a few of the All-Conference players who thrived in Bennett’s system in college and went on to have success at the next level.
McConnell was named the WCC Player of the Year in 2011, becoming the first Gael since 1999 to earn the award. Dellavedova went on to win the award in 2012, the first time since 1962 a Gael won league player of the year in back-to-back seasons. Landale was also named the WCC Player of the Year in 2018 and became the first Gael to be named an AP First or Second Team All-American after averaging 21.1 points and 10.2 rebounds as a senior. Patty Mills was selected as the 2008 WCC Newcomer of the Year.
In addition to his 25 years as the Head Coach at Saint Mary’s, Bennett has nearly 40 years of coaching experience at the NCAA Division I level. He served as an assistant coach for 16 years at San Diego (1985-86; 88-96), Idaho (1986-88), Pepperdine (1996-99) and Saint Louis (1999-01).
Bennett has roots in Arizona, having grown up in Mesa and attended Westwood High School. His father, Tom, served as the Men’s Basketball Head Coach at Mesa Community College for 19 years and is a Mesa City Sports Hall of Famer. Bennett played for his dad for two seasons, the first of which resulted in a 31-4 record and an Arizona Junior College championship. Bennett was the team captain for the 1981-82 season, leading the Thunderbirds to a 25-6 record and another Arizona Junior College championship. Bennett went on to the University of California at San Diego, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology in 1986. He played basketball for the Tritons from 1983-85 and was named a team captain. Bennett will be joined in Tempe by his wife, Darlene (Darby), whom he married in April of 1998. They have two sons, Cade and Chase.