Randy Bennett

Randall William Bennett (born June 9, 1962) is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at Saint Mary's College of California. He has led the team to several second-place finishes and nine NCAA tournament appearances, culminating in regular season conference championships in 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2023 as well as WCC tournament championships in 2010, 2012 and 2019.

For other people named Randy Bennett, see Randy Bennett (disambiguation).
Randy Bennett
Bennett at the Jenny Craig Pavilion in January 2012
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamSaint Mary's
ConferenceWCC
Record507–208 (.709)
Biographical details
Born (1962-06-09) June 9, 1962
Mesa, Arizona, U.S.
Playing career
1980–1982Mesa CC
1983–1985UC San Diego
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1985–1986San Diego (volunteer assistant)
1986–1988Idaho (graduate assistant)
1988–1996San Diego (assistant)
1996–1999Pepperdine (assistant)
1999–2001Saint Louis (assistant)
2001–presentSaint Mary's
Head coaching record
Overall507–208 (.709)
Tournaments6–9 (NCAA Division I)
7–7 (NIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 WCC tournament (2010, 2012, 2019)
4 WCC regular season (2011, 2012, 2016, 2023)
Awards
5× WCC Coach of the Year (2008, 2011, 2016, 2022, 2023)

Early life and college playing career

Born in Mesa, Arizona, Bennett graduated from Westwood High School in Mesa and began his collegiate career at Mesa Community College, playing under his father Tom from 1980 to 1982. Bennett then transferred to the University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego).[1][2] As a senior in the 1984–85 season, Bennett averaged 7.0 points and 1.5 rebounds.[3] Bennett graduated from UC San Diego in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in biology.[2]

Coaching career

While completing his degree at UC San Diego, Bennett began his coaching career in the 1985–86 season as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego under Hank Egan.[2] Bennett then coached at Idaho under Tim Floyd from 1986 to 1988.[1] After two seasons at Idaho, Bennett returned to the University of San Diego and rejoined Egan's staff as an assistant coach. In 1994, Brad Holland replaced Egan and retained Bennett, until Bennett left in 1996 to be assistant at Pepperdine under Lorenzo Romar.[2]

In 1999, Bennett followed Romar to Saint Louis.[4]

Bennett became a head coach for the first time in 2001 when Saint Mary's College of California hired him. Inheriting a team that won only two games the previous season, Bennett improved his team's win–loss totals every season until 2004–05, when Saint Mary's went 25–9 with a berth in the NCAA tournament.[2][1] Bennett has led Saint Mary's to the NCAA Tournament in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023 and National Invitation Tournament in 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2021.[2]

Given this success, Bennett has been linked to several coaching jobs in higher profile conferences in recent years, most recently at California, Oregon State, Oregon, and Utah of the Pac-12.[5][6][1]

Coach Bennett signed a ten year extension with Saint Mary's Gaels through 2026–27.[7]

Head coaching record
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Saint Mary's Gaels (West Coast Conference) (2001–present)
2001–02 Saint Mary's 9–203–116th
2002–03 Saint Mary's 15–156–85th
2003–04 Saint Mary's 19–129–5T–2nd
2004–05 Saint Mary's 25–911–32ndNCAA Division I Round of 64
2005–06 Saint Mary's 17–128–6T–2nd
2006–07 Saint Mary's 17–158–6T–3rd
2007–08 Saint Mary's 25–712–22ndNCAA Division I Round of 64
2008–09 Saint Mary's 28–710–42ndNIT quarterfinal
2009–10 Saint Mary's 28–611–32ndNCAA Division I Sweet 16
2010–11 Saint Mary's 25–911–3T–1stNIT first round
2011–12 Saint Mary's 27–614–21stNCAA Division I Round of 64
2012–13 Saint Mary's 28–714–22ndNCAA Division I Round of 64
2013–14 Saint Mary's 23–1211–74thNIT second round
2014–15 Saint Mary's 21–1013–5T–2ndNIT first round
2015–16 Saint Mary's 29–615–3T–1stNIT quarterfinal
2016–17 Saint Mary's 29–516–22ndNCAA Division I Round of 32
2017–18 Saint Mary's 30–616–22ndNIT quarterfinal
2018–19 Saint Mary's 22–1211–5T–2ndNCAA Division I Round of 64
2019–20 Saint Mary's 26–811–5T–3rdPostseason not held
2020–21 Saint Mary's 14–104–67thNIT first round
2021–22 Saint Mary's 26–812–32ndNCAA Division I Round of 32
2022–23 Saint Mary's 27–814–2T–1stNCAA Division I Round of 32
Saint Mary's: 507–208 (.709)256–95 (.729)
Total:507–208 (.709)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References
  1. Domingo, Oden (April 8, 2006). "Bennett's success puts name in rumor mill". Arizona Republic. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  2. "Randy Bennett". Saint Mary's College of California. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  3. "Final 1985 Men's Basketball Statistics Report - University of California, San Diego" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  4. Hallisy, Erin (Spring 2007). "Coach For Life". Saint Mary's Magazine. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008.
  5. "The Cal coaching search: Is St. Mary's Randy Bennett the right fit?". 3 April 2008.
  6. Bryant West. "Gaels' Randy Bennett isn't going anywhere". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011.
  7. "Saint Mary's locks up Bennett to 10-year deal". 10 November 2017.
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