NCAA Tournament appearances and a Sweet-16 showing in 2007–08. Coaching Awards 1982 Wisconsin State University Conference Coach of the Year 1985 Wisconsin State University Conference Coach of the Year 1985 NAIA District IV Coach of the Year 1985 NAIA Area IV Coach of the Year 1990 Mid-Continent Conference Coach of the Year 1992 Mid-Continent Conference Coach of the Year 1992 NABC District 11 Coach of the Year 1994 Basketball Times Midwest Coach of the Year 1994 NABC District 11 Coach of the Year 2007 Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame Legacy Bennett recruited players who were willing to place teamwork and discipline ahead of personal statistics. His players excelled in the classroom as well as on the court. While few NBA players emerged from his programs, most of his players have gone on to success in other careers, including coaching. He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. Bennett is best known for devising the "pack line" defense, a gap defense that clogs up potential driving lanes and prevents ballhandlers from getting to the paint. His son continued using the "pack line" after succeeding him at Washington State, and took the defense with him to Virginia. His influence on defense brought him fame in the 2014 NCAA Tournament, when four teams in the Sweet 16 (Arizona, Dayton, Virginia and Wisconsin) used the "pack line." Background and family Bennett went to high school in Clintonville, Wisconsin and graduated from Ripon College. His son, Tony Bennett, was hired as Washington State's head men's basketball coach after his father's retirement. Three years later, Tony accepted his current position as head men's basketball coach at the University of Virginia. Bennett's daughter, Kathi Bennett, has served as the head women's basketball coach the University of Evansville, Indiana University Bloomington, and Northern Illinois University. His brother Jack Bennett, retired as head men's basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point after winning back-to-back NCAA Division III national titles, in 2004 and 2005. Another brother, Tom Bennett, died of AIDS-related complications at age 38 in January 1996. Head coaching record College See also List of NCAA Division I Men's Final Four appearances by coach References 1943 births Living people American men's basketball players Basketball coaches from Pennsylvania Basketball players from Pittsburgh College men's basketball head coaches in the United States Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball coaches Guards (basketball) High school basketball coaches in Wisconsin