DALLAS, TEXAS -- Phil Bennett, the defensive coordinator at Kansas State for the last three years, was named the head coach of the SMU football program today in an announcement made by Director of Athletics Jim Copeland. Bennett replaces Mike Cavan, who was dismissed on Nov. 19 and compiled an 18-28 record the last five seasons. Click here to view quotes from Wednesday's press conference.
"This announcement is the next step in our commitment to excellence within our football program," said Copeland. "We plan to win championships here at SMU and Phil has all of the characteristics that we were looking for in a leader of our program. He is passionate, enthusiastic, disciplined, has great integrity and has a great football mind.
"We encountered a broad and talented pool of candidates during the search process and without a doubt, Phil Bennett is the best fit for our program."
A 23-year veteran of college coaching, Bennett has been the defensive coordinator at seven schools. Most recently, he has coordinated the Kansas State defense since 1999, helping the Wildcats to appearances in Holiday, Cotton and Insight.com Bowls. This year, the Wildcats rank third nationally in total defense, allowing 262.4 yards per game. K-State ranked fourth in the country in total defense in 2000 and second in 1999. He was twice (1999, 2001) a nominee for the Frank Broyles Award, presented annually to the nation's top assistant coach.
The Marshall, Texas native, who is the 15th head coach in SMU football history, recruited Dallas, Central Texas and East Texas for Kansas State. "That was one of the many great things about him," Copeland said. "He has strong ties to this state and its high school coaches."
Bennett was the co-defensive coordinator at Oklahoma in 1998, when the Sooners ranked sixth in the nation in total defense. In 1997, he was the defensive coordinator at TCU when the Horned Frogs ranked among the nation's top 30 in total defense.
A 1978 graduate of Texas A&M, Bennett was the defensive coordinator at his alma mater in 1995 and 1996. In 1995, the Aggies had the third rated defense in the country and ranked in the nation's top five in every major statistical category. He was also named the American Football Coaches Association Defensive Coordinator of the Year that season.
He was a three-year letterman as a defensive end at Texas A&M and earned second team All-Southwest Conference honors as a senior in 1977. His first coaching job was there from 1979-81 as the school's defensive ends coach. The other stops in his coaching career have come at: TCU (1982, tight ends); Iowa State (1983-86, defensive coordinator); Purdue (1987-91, defensive coordinator); and LSU (1992-94, assistant head coach/defensive coordinator).
Bennett celebrated his 46th birthday on Monday. He has two children - Sam (14) and Maddie (11).
