Spring Break
Bennett fired mid-season; will coach final four games
Mark Norris, Editor In Chief, mnorris@smu.edu
Issue date: 10/30/07 Section: News
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Bennett mentioned two recent situations, a 2005 loss at Marshall and quarterback Justin Willis being suspended and missing the UTEP game in 2006, that were bad breaks for the program. He said all programs need a little luck in addition to good playing to be successful. During his time at SMU, that never happened.
SMU will buy out Bennett's contract.
It runs through Dec. 31, 2008 and is valued at nearly $500,000 per year. An option for 2009 was voided when the coach failed to win seven games in 2006.
After Orsini and Bennett met Sunday afternoon, the two met with the entire coaching staff and Bennett notified them of the decision. Orsini said the assistant coaches have contracts that run through May 2008 and they will be honored regardless of what changes occur.
Then the two met with the entire team. Bennett led the meeting and explained how the rest of the season would work, and Orsini also spoke in front of the players.
Bennett said he didn't mince any words and told the team that the administration had decided to make changes in leadership at the end of the season.
"It's like anything, some of them will be sad for a little bit," Bennett said. "A month from now when they hire a new coach, they'll talk about the new things, neat things that he does and all the crummy things I did. It's just the nature of the beast."
Bennett has a cumulative record of 18-48 during his six-year tenure on the Hilltop. Bennett had increased the number of wins season to season over the past three years, topping out at last year's 6-6 record.
The six wins made SMU bowl eligible, but the Mustangs failed to win the season finale at Rice that was necessary to earn a bowl slot.
Following the game, Orsini went through a two-day evaluation period that ultimately led to Bennett returning for the 2007 season.
Bennett said any coach's goal is to leave on his own terms and leave the job better than he found it.
"Without being critical of anybody else, I know it's a better situation," he said. "But I did not leave on my terms, which is disappointing."
The future will probably include coaching at another school for Bennett, but he doesn't expect to make any decisions quickly.
"I just sort of want to gather my thoughts," he said. "That's who I am - I'm a coach. I enjoy it. I don't know where it will lead me, but it's always been exciting."
SMU will buy out Bennett's contract.
It runs through Dec. 31, 2008 and is valued at nearly $500,000 per year. An option for 2009 was voided when the coach failed to win seven games in 2006.
After Orsini and Bennett met Sunday afternoon, the two met with the entire coaching staff and Bennett notified them of the decision. Orsini said the assistant coaches have contracts that run through May 2008 and they will be honored regardless of what changes occur.
Then the two met with the entire team. Bennett led the meeting and explained how the rest of the season would work, and Orsini also spoke in front of the players.
Bennett said he didn't mince any words and told the team that the administration had decided to make changes in leadership at the end of the season.
"It's like anything, some of them will be sad for a little bit," Bennett said. "A month from now when they hire a new coach, they'll talk about the new things, neat things that he does and all the crummy things I did. It's just the nature of the beast."
Bennett has a cumulative record of 18-48 during his six-year tenure on the Hilltop. Bennett had increased the number of wins season to season over the past three years, topping out at last year's 6-6 record.
The six wins made SMU bowl eligible, but the Mustangs failed to win the season finale at Rice that was necessary to earn a bowl slot.
Following the game, Orsini went through a two-day evaluation period that ultimately led to Bennett returning for the 2007 season.
Bennett said any coach's goal is to leave on his own terms and leave the job better than he found it.
"Without being critical of anybody else, I know it's a better situation," he said. "But I did not leave on my terms, which is disappointing."
The future will probably include coaching at another school for Bennett, but he doesn't expect to make any decisions quickly.
"I just sort of want to gather my thoughts," he said. "That's who I am - I'm a coach. I enjoy it. I don't know where it will lead me, but it's always been exciting."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
AggieCoach.com
posted 10/30/07 @ 9:56 AM CST
Is there any chance that SMU is already talking to Texas A&M soon-to-be-fired Coach Dennis Franchione? Would he be the right fit for the Mustangs given his background with TCU, DFW recruiting and relationships with the Dallas-area media?
Pony Fan
posted 10/30/07 @ 3:03 PM CST
Sad day for Bennett, and SMU. Although this program has produced student athletes (emphasis- student) with one of the highest overall GPA's and graduation success rates in CUSA, not to mention NCAA, the light shines only on the programs success/failure on the field. (Continued…)
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