Oct. 31, 2002
ATLANTA – Scott Bennett, owner of 24 years experience as a field events coach, will join the Georgia Tech track and field program as an assistant coach Yellow Jacket men’s head coach Grover Hinsdale and women’s head coach Alan Drosky announced Wednesday.
Bennett, who most recently worked at the University of Tennessee, will work with Tech’s throws, pole vault and multi-event personnel.
“Scott Bennett brings a wealth of experience and accomplishment to our program,” said Hinsdale. “I have followed his career for a number of years and have always been very impressed with his ability to develop the talent of the student-athletes he has worked with. I can tell you this; he is a quality person and an exceptional coach. We are delighted to have him on board.”
Drosky echoed Hinsdale’s sentiment and added: “Scott Bennett fit the bill perfectly for what we were looking for. The experience he has in those event areas and the success of his student-athletes are what attracted us to him. We’re looking forward to the student-athletes in that program having an opportunity to work with him.”
A proven recruiter and coach, Bennett served as women’s field event coach for the Lady Vols from 1998-2002 where he handled coaching and recruiting duties for women’s throws, jumps and multi-events. He coached All-Americans in the pole vault, shot put, discus and javelin, as well as multiple Southeastern Conference champions.
While at Tennessee, he also coached Olympian Andy Bloom, who finished fourth in the shot put at the 2000 Sydney Games and ended that season ranked second in the world in the shot and among the top five in the discus.
Bennett also coached discus standout Aretha Hill for the last two years, guiding her to a top-three national and top-seven world ranking in 2002. She was a 1996 Olympian.
Prior to his work in Knoxville, Bennett worked as the men’s and women’s field event coach at Wake Forest from 1993-96. He handled coaching and recruiting duties for Demon Deacon throws, jumps, sprints and multi-events performers. He mentored 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials qualifiers in the men’s discus, men’s shot put and women’s heptathlon, as well as six All-Americans and 10 ACC champions.
Bennett has also made coaching stops at Wisconsin (1981-83, 1989-93), Kansas State (1985-89) and Wisconsin-LaCrosse (1983-84). While at Kansas State, he worked with Kenny Harrison, who went on to win gold in the triple jump at the 1996 Olympics and ’91 World Championships.
He has also been heavily involved in several USA Track & Field projects and has conducted a throws camp at Wake Forest for each of the last four years.
Bennett is a 1976 graduate of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science in physical education. While in school there, he was a member of the Badgers’ football and track and field teams.
While at Wisconsin-LaCrosse, Bennett earned a Master of Science degree in Human Performance, graduating in 1984.
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