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January 7, 2008
SAINT MARY'S RANDY BENNETT
RECEIVES MID-SEASON HONORS
 Following
a 12-1 start, Saint Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett earned the
Hugh Durham award mid-season coaching honors. Bennett received
9-of-20 first-place votes.
“Randy continues to do an outstanding job,” says
CollegeInsider.com co-founder Joe Dwyer who serves on the
20-member voting panel. “He’s an excellent x-and-o guy who can
really recruit. I don’t think Randy has gotten enough credit
for the job he has done in the past six-plus seasons so it’s
good to see him getting some attention for another fast
start.”
Saint Mary’s great start was highlighted by a win over No. 12
ranked Oregon on Nov. 20, but it wasn’t the only impressive
win. Bennett’s squad captured two in-season tournaments,
winning both the Rainbow Classic and the Shamrock Classic. The
Gaels also notched wins over San Diego State, Seton Hall and
handed Drake it’s only lost to date.
The early season success moved Saint Mary’s to No. 1 in the
Mid-Major Top earlier this season. Bennett’s team finished the
calendar year ranked No. 2.
Now in his seventh season as the head coach, Bennett became
the school’s all-time winningest coach this season, passing
James Weaver (110 wins; 1955-62).
Butler’s Brad Stevens finished second in the voting, with Bob
Marlin (Sam Houston State), Keno Davis (Drake) and Danny
Kaspar (Stephen F. Austin) rounding out the top five.
Renamed after the legendary Georgia and Jacksonville head
coach Hugh the award is given annually by CollegeInsider.com
to the top mid-major coach in America. Former Winthrop head
coach Gregg Marshall was the recipient of the award last
season, which was presented at the Final Four in Atlanta.
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FINAL VOTING (first place votes in parenthesis)
|
Randy
Bennett |
Saint
Mary's |
79 (9) |
|
Brad
Stevens |
Butler |
52 (5) |
|
Bob Marlin |
Sam Houston
State |
47 (2) |
|
Keno Davis |
Drake |
20 (1) |
|
Danny
Kaspar |
Stephen F.
Austin |
14 (1) |
|
Dana Altman
|
Creighton |
11 (1) |
|
Bob
Williams |
UC Santa
Barbara |
9 |
|
Joe
Pasternack |
New Orleans |
8 |
|
Charlie
Coles |
Miami |
5 (1) |
|
Tim
Jankovich |
Illinois
State |
5 |
|
Ronnie
Arrow |
South
Alabam |
4
|
|
Bob Burton
|
Cal State
Fullerton |
4 |
|
Mark Few |
Gonzaga |
4 |
|
Jim
Larranaga |
George
Mason |
4 |
|
Fran
McCafferty |
Siena |
4 |
|
Eddie
Biedenbach |
UNC
Asheville |
3 |
|
Keith
Dambrot |
Akron |
3 |
|
Dan Monson |
Long Beach
State |
3 |
|
Steve
Shields |
UALR |
3 |
|
Ralph
Willard |
Holy Cross |
3 |
|
Tad Boyle |
Northern
Colorado |
2 |
|
Brad
Brownell |
Wright
State |
2 |
|
Homer Drew |
Valparaiso |
2 |
|
Anthony
Grant |
VCU |
2 |
|
Darrin Horn |
Western
Kentucky |
2 |
|
Tim O'Shea |
Ohio |
2 |
|
Ron Hunter |
IUPUI |
1 |
|
Bob
McKillop |
Davidson |
1 |
|
Jeff Price |
Georgia
Southern |
1 |
|
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