Bob Bennett Biography

Bob Bennett concluded one of the most illustrious careers in college baseball in 2002. Bennett wrapped up his career with a 1,302-759 record all-time, which ranks him seventh all-time in NCAA Division I history. He joined Larry Hays of Texas Tech as becoming only the seventh coach in NCAA history to reach 1,300 wins. With a 32-27 record in his final season, Bennett closed out his career with 26 consecutive winning seasons. In his 34 years Bennett had just two losing seasons.

In 2002, Bennett's squad captured its 12th Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic title as well as reeling off 15 straight home wins, the most since 1988 when Fresno State won 27 in a row.

In the 2001 season he guided FS to its 25th consecutive winning season earning a third WAC Coach of the Year award, while making his 21st NCAA regional appearance.

During the 2000 season he became only the 10th coach in NCAA baseball history to reach the 1,200-win plateau. Prior to the season finale, Bennett became the first coach in Fresno State history -- and first person affiliated with the baseball program -- to have his number retired. His No. 26 will live forever on the left-field wall of Pete Beiden Field, the facility he helped build.

Bennett's numbers and results are impressive, since 1979, his teams averaged more than 40 wins a season, 1,302 victories, 17 conference championships, 21 NCAA Tournament berths, 65 players who earned first-team all-conference honors, 32 All-Americans, nine first-round MLB draft picks and two College World Series appearances. Bennett's success and longevity are virtually unparalleled in the collegiate coaching ranks.

Dedicated, hard working and loyal, Bennett inherited a program that was enjoying a successful run under former head coach Pete Beiden and took it to another level. He helped Fresno State build Beiden Field into a first-class facility and was largely responsible for the Bulldogs becoming a model in the area of facilities, ticket sales, fan support and community pride. Bennett and the Bulldogs were a marriage of growth and prosperity. Under his leadership, Fresno State was consistently a national leader in attendance and fan support not to mention posting 26 consecutive winning seasons and regional berths in 12 of the past 15 seasons. More than 100 of his players have gone on to careers in professional baseball.

Bennett earned conference Coach of the Year honors 14 times in addition to being named 1988 NCAA Coach of the Year by The Sporting News. He also earned the prestigious Lefty Gomez Award in January 2000, which is presented to the coach who has distinguished himself among his peers locally, nationally and internationally. Considered one of the nation's top pitching coaches, Bennett was known for his fundamentally-sound ballclubs.

Bennett saw more than 100 of his players taken in the regular phase of the annual June amateur draft, including nine first-round picks. Of the 35 players that have played in the Major Leagues, 19 were pitchers.

Bennett's success at Fresno State began in the 1950's when he was a catcher for the legendary Pete Beiden. The four-year letterman and two-time team captain was twice named California Collegiate Athletic Association all-conference (1954 and 1955). He played on teams that won CCAA titles in 1954 and 1955. Bennett set a school record for fielding percentage by a catcher in 1953 when he went errorless in 224 total chances. With Bennett behind the plate, the Bulldogs compiled a four-year record of 117-52 (.692).

Bennett, a 1951 graduate of Fresno's Roosevelt High School, graduated from Fresno State in 1956 with a degree in physical education. Two years later he earned his master's degree in P.E. from Fresno State. He moved directly into coaching following his graduation from Fresno State in 1956, taking over as head baseball coach at Kingburg (Calif.) High School. In two seasons, his teams compiled a 41-19 record.

In 1958, he moved on to Fresno's Bullard High School, where the Knights posted over 200 victories in his 11 seasons. His coaching career at Bullard was interrupted in 1967 when he was asked to take over the coaching duties at Fresno State while head coach Pete Beiden went on sabbatical. That season, the Bulldogs finished 38-10, won a CCAA title and earned a berth in the NCAA playoffs.

Bennett returned to Bullard following the 1967 campaign but was called back to Fresno State on a permanent basis in 1970 following Beiden's retirement. Since then, the Bulldogs have won the conference championship 17 times including an astounding 7 years in a row.

Considered a leader on the collegiate baseball front, Bennett is a former president of the American Baseball Coaches Association. He serves on the Hall of Fame and All-America committees within the ABCA and is a member of the ABCA Board.

The 69-year-old Bennett has also been heavily involved in baseball at the international level, serving as head coach of the U.S. National Team in 1983 and 1986 and as a member of the national team's coaching staff in 1977 and 1979. Bennett is a member of the Fresno State Hall of Fame, the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Roosevelt High School Hall of Fame as a charter member.

Bennett informed athletics director Dr. Al Bohl of his decision to retire after the 2002 season as Fresno State prepared to enter the 2001 NCAA tournament. "It is my personal desire to retire at the end of the 2002 season," Bennett said. "I am making this decision after lengthy deliberations and discussions with my family. After 45 years of coaching, included 33 years as head baseball coach at Fresno State, I feel strongly that I have done almost all of the things I have wanted to do in coaching. While I look forward to one more season with our program and seeing the fresh talent on this year's team mature to even greater heights, I want to move on with my life, spend more time with my family and pursue other goals of writing, lecturing and conducting clinics."

"Fresno State has been very fortunate to have Bob Bennett as its head baseball coach for 33 years," Bohl said. "His record is outstanding and his accomplishments as a coach will likely never be surpassed in school history. The university and all of the baseball fans of the Valley owe a great deal of gratitude to Coach Bennett. The 2002 season will be very special for Fresno State and Bob Bennett."

Bennett and his wife, Jane, have three children, Karen, Todd, a former Bulldog, and Brad, a Fresno State standout who later played professionally - and eight grandchildren.

Some of his accomplishments are:

Seventh all-time in wins in NCAA Division I baseball history
Only the seventh coach in NCAA baseball history to reach 1,300 wins
26 consecutive winning seasons
3 time WAC Coach of the Year
21 NCAA regional appearances
Only the 10th coach in NCAA baseball history to reach 1,200 wins
First coach or player in Fresno State history to have his number retired
Averaged more than 40 wins a season since 1979
17 conference championships - 7 in a row
21 NCAA Tournament berths
Coached 65 players who earned first-team all-conference honors
Coached 32 All-Americans
Coached nine first-round MLB draft picks
Coached two College World Series teams
Coached more than 100 players who have gone on to careers in professional baseball
Coached 35 players that have played in the Major Leagues
Earned conference Coach of the Year honors 14 times
Named 1988 NCAA Coach of the Year by The Sporting News
Earned the prestigious Lefty Gomez Award in January 2000
4 year letterman as a catcher at Fresno State
Two-time team captain
Twice named California Collegiate Athletic Association All-Conference
Played on teams that won CCAA titles in 1954 and 1955
Set a school record for fielding percentage by a catcher when he went errorless in 224 total chances 53' season
Graduated from Fresno State in 1956 with a degree in physical education
Master's degree in P.E. from Fresno State
Former president of the American Baseball Coaches Association
Serves on the Hall of Fame and All-America committees within the ABCA and is a member of the ABCA Board
Served as head coach of the U.S. National Team in 1983 and 1986
Served as a member of the national team?s coaching staff in 1977 and 1979
Memeber of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame
Member of the Fresno State Hall of Fame
Member of the Roosevelt High School Hall of Fame as a charter member