Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State Reaches Contract Agreement With Bennett
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 11, 1999
Fresno, Calif. - Veteran baseball coach Bob Bennett signed a contract to coach Fresno State for the 2000 season, bringing the 65 year-old Bennett back for his 32nd season with the Bulldogs.
"Though the past season was not as successful as we would have liked, we and coach Bennett are determined to quickly return to the national stature our baseball team enjoyed in the late 80s and 90s," said Associate Athletic Director Scott Johnson. "Bob Bennett knows what it takes, and he seems very confident about next season."
In 31 seasons at Fresno State, Bennett has compiled a 1,190-685 record, ranking him 10th all time and fifth among active coaches. This season the Bulldogs posted their 13th-straight season with 30 or more victories as they racked up a 33-30 record. Since 1979 Bennett has averaged more than 40 victories a season, with 17 NCAA post season appearances.
"Im looking forward to next season and expect it to be a very good year for Fresno State baseball," Coach Bennett said. "We have a very talented team, and with this contract signing behind me, I can focus completely on the final recruiting stages of our freshman players and all the other planning that must begin immediately for the season."
A member of the National Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Bennett has been named conference coach of the year 13 times and was the NCAA Coach of the Year in 1988 after leading Fresno State to the College World Series and a No. 2 final ranking. Four times Bennett has served as a coach for the US National Team - twice as an assistant (1977,79) and twice as the head coach (1983, 86).
During his tenure at Fresno State, Bennett has coached 28 All-Americans, had eight first-round draft picks and seen 24 of his players advance to the major leagues, including 1998 alum Jeff Weaver, who was called up by Detroit this spring.
