www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=529390From one Bennett to another, father to son, the changing of the guard is complete.
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Now it's up to Tony Bennett, a former Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin and collegiate star at UW-Green Bay, to continue the rebuilding job at Washington State started by his father, Dick Bennett. Tony was a Cougars assistant coach in 2003-'04 and was promoted to associate head coach for two years before taking over as head coach in February.
"If it went well and if the administration thought there was progress and that the team was becoming competitive, it would be a natural progression for my dad to hand it over to me when it was time," Tony Bennett said.
"I appreciate the confidence they've shown in me and I've got five years to hopefully make this place a better place than it's been."
Tony Bennett and the Cougars are part of a big-name ticket in town this weekend for the John Thompson Foundation Challenge Classic, hosted by UW-Milwaukee.
Washington State opens the action against Alabama-Birmingham at 5 tonight at U.S. Cellular Arena, followed by UWM's game against Radford.
Of course, the elder Bennett made his mark in this state by building strong basketball programs, first at UW-Stevens Point, then at Green Bay and finally at the University of Wisconsin.
Dick came out of retirement in 2003 to do the same with the Cougars, shocking everyone, including Tony.
But for the last three seasons, Tony has been right by his father's side, grooming himself for the inevitable.
For all the success he watched his father have at various stops, Tony said, it was nothing compared to seeing him do the little things needed to revive Washington State, a perennial doormat in the Pacific 10 Conference.
And the quality time will be something father and son will always cherish.
"When you have a chance to work with your dad in that phase of life - he's in his early 60s and I'm in my mid-30s - you can't pass on that," Tony said.
Once Dick announced his retirement from Washington State near the end of last season, Tony was more than ready to assume full control of the program.
Washington State officials, though, had been watching Tony's every move to make sure he was, indeed, the right choice.
"What he did was impress the people here at the university on what kind of person he was, the work he was doing with basketball," Washington State athletic director Jim Sterk said. "He was the recruiter, going out and finding the kids that would fit and make our program better. He really was the cornerstone of which our program was elevated, even when Dick was the head coach.
"A year ago we sat down and I told him that whenever Dick decided to retire, he is the person I would like to continue with the program."
Besides being the son of a legend, Tony has also made a name for himself in basketball.
Tony played for his dad at Green Bay from 1989-'92 finishing as the Mid-Continent Conference's all-time leader in points (2,285) and assists (601). He still ranks as the NCAA's all-time leader in three-point percentage (49.7%).
He spent three NBA seasons with Charlotte, but a foot injury ended his career. After being a player-coach in New Zealand, Tony Bennett joined his father's staff at Wisconsin in time to see the Badgers reach the 2000 Final Four.
For three more years he stayed at Wisconsin before heading over to Pullman, Wash., with Dick.
The father toyed with retirement in 2005, but stuck it out one more year.
"He knew it would be a challenging year with young players," Tony said. "If (the job) was going to go to me, I think he wanted to give me a fighting a chance with at least some guys with some experience."
Already, Tony is noticing progress in the Cougars, who finished last in the conference and are picked to do the same again.
But the seeds, first planted by Dick and now in Tony's care, are beginning to prosper.
"We've got good character guys, and that makes it easy," Tony said. "We don't have to coach effort anymore in this program."
