Sir William
January 12th, 2007, 07:42 AM
Bennett has apparently not been offered the job yet. Bobby Bentley is now under considration. No real surprise here. Conventional wisdom says he will probably be offered the job, and take it.
from www.goupstate.com (click on "sports")
Presbyterian contacts Bentley
JASON GILMER, Staff Writer
Published January 12, 2007
Byrnes football coach Bobby Bentley has been contacted by Presbyterian College officials regarding the university's head coaching vacancy.
"They did contact me and I talked to them," Bentley said Thursday evening. "But I am still the football coach and athletic director at Byrnes High School."
Bentley, who led Byrnes to four consecutive state titles in recent years, wouldn't comment further on the situation.
He and two others are considered finalists for the position and the hope is to name a new head coach next week, sources said.
Bentley is a 1990 Presbyterian College graduate and he played football at the school. Bentley, who is also a Byrnes graduate, has compiled a 106-51 record in 13 seasons at the school and helped many players advance to play in college.
It isn't uncommon for Bentley's name to pop up in college coaching searches, but this is the first time his name has been involved with a head coaching search. He had been rumored in connection with jobs at Clemson in the past.
The Presbyterian position came open when Tommy Spangler left the job on Jan. 6 to take the defensive coordinator's position at Louisiana Tech. Spangler compiled a 42-24 record in six years at Presbyterian.
Another Presbyterian graduate, Coastal Carolina's head coach David Bennett, was also rumored to be in the running for the job. Bennett, though, agreed to a multi-year deal to stay at Coastal on Thursday, according to the Myrtle Beach Sun News' Web site. The Sun News reported that Bennett was never officially offered the job, but Presbyterian officials were close to making an offer.
Presbyterian began a transition to Division I status and agreed to join the Big South Conference earlier this year. As the Blue Hose move toward Division I status, they will play a conference schedule during the 2008-09 school year, but that will not count toward the league's standings or championships.
The Blue Hose won't be eligible for conference or NCAA championships until 2011.
Presbyterian College has a crop of graduates who are high school coaches in the state. including Landrum's John Cann, Summerville's John McKissick, Greenwood's Shell Dula, Conway's Chuck Jordan and Polk County's (N.C.) Bruce Ollis.
Jason Gilmer can be reached at 562-7247 or
[email protected].