Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Bennett Brings Defensive Skills To PHS

First, he was a Bulldog. Then he was a Bearcat. This was followed by being a Rattler.

Now, though, David Bennett is a Curley Wolf.

And, if his history is repeated in Prescott, there will be no letdown on either the football team or the track program.

Bennett was recently named as the head coach of the Prescott Curley Wolf football team in a special meeting of the Prescott School Board.

He graduated from Dierks High School in 1982 and went to Henderson State University, earning his BSE in 1987.

During his senior year at HSU, he married his sweetheart, Kim Talley. Before graduation, the two had their first child, Jonathan, now 10.

Following his exit from HSU, Bennett's first coaching stint came in Marlin, Texas. Here, he coached the linemen on the grid team, while also coaching junior high track.

The 'Dogs didn't do well his first year, posting a 2-8 record. This changed drastically the next season, as the team went 8-2-1 and earned a berth in the state playoffs. Unfortunately, they were eliminated in the first round to Mexia. However, the trip ended a nine-year drought for the team.

In his two years at Marlin, he also coached the district and state track champs in the mile relay. Bennett also taught American History and was named Teacher of the Year.

From there, he headed to Moody, Texas to become a Bearcat.

The Bearcats had been going through an extended drought as far as making the playoffs. Bennett said it had been 14 years since the team had seen post-season action.

As first assistant coach in football, with the title of defensive coordinator and varsity line coach, the team was district runner up in 1990, making the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. Again, though, the team lost in the first round.

In 1989, the 'Cats went 6-4, improving to 8-3 in '90 when they went to the playoffs.

Along with his coaching duties on the gridiron, Bennett coached junior high basketball (with a perfect season), was the head track coach and had the state champion runner up in the shot put and a state qualifier in the pole vault. Eight members of his thinclad squad were regional qualifiers in '90-91.

He also taught World and American history.

In 1991-92, Bennett kept the same duties on the football field and was named head basketball coach. He also taught American history, health and driver's education. That year, he was awarded the honor as Teacher of the Year.

But, the '91-92 academic year ended his stay in Texas, as the Bennett family returned to Arkansas, where he took the job as defensive coordinator assistant and varsity line coach for the Murfreesboro Rattlers.

In '92-93, the Rattlers made the state playoffs for the first time in their grid history, finishing second in Class A football's state finals. The Rattlers were district champs that season, while the junior squad was district runner up.

Bennett also coached boys basketball and assisted in the Rattler track program. The Rattler thinclads boasted the state champs in the shot and discus that season.

The next year, Bennett retained the same duties on the football field, with the Rattlers finishing as runner ups on the senior and junior teams.

His senior boys basketball team was the district runner up, while posting the school's first regional win. The junior high roundballers were the district runner up.

The '94-95 school year saw the Rattlers, with Bennett still the defensive coordinator and line coach, win the district title, while the junior team was the runner up in the league.

This crew of senior players boasted first place finishes in defense against the run and was second in total defense.

He also coached senior basketball, junior high basketball and the seventh grade team.

Bennett returned to the classroom for the '95-96 season, in addition to his coaching duties. He taught American history, geography and driver's education.

Athletically, though, the Rattlers were again the district champs, this time for both the senior and junior squads.

The senior Snakes were fourth in run defense and total defense in the Southwest Region.

Last season, the Rattlers went all the way to the brink of success, as they made the finals in the Class A State Playoffs, before falling to Bauxite.

Murfreesboro's senior grid team was undefeated during the regular season, and went through the playoffs easily until the championship game.

Bennett's defense was tops in the Southwest Region, while the Rattlers ranked first in scoring, rushing and total defense.

On the cinders, the Rattlers were the district runner up.

Bennett was still teaching American history, geography and driver's ed at this time.

While all this coaching and teaching was going on, the Bennett family grew larger.

Brittany, their eldest daughter, 6, was born while they lived in the Waco area. Courtney, who will be four next month, and Whitney, 2, were born while the family was in Murfreesboro.

The Rattlers found the defense Bennett used in Texas to their liking with the way they finished in league play.

He installed the 1-3 slide defense, which, Bennett said, looks like a 4-4 front with a strong and weak side. However, the line can adjust this technique to a five man front, or more, depending on the opposing team.

This is the defense he plans to use with the Wolves this season.

Offensively, though, Bennett couldn't say what he would run. Possibly, he said, the Wolves will run a multiple-I formation, but whatever the team uses when it has the ball will be determined by the personnel at hand.

He said the Wolves will mix the pass and run to keep opposing defenses honest and off balance, but the degree of the mix will again depend on the players on the field.

"I know we have a talented quarterback," he said of the returning Wolves, "but we need receivers who can turn and run." This is also true of the running backs who could be used in the passing game as well.

Bennett wants to meet the team no later than July 1. "I have a weight program I want them involved with and to get started on," he said. "We need to set times for the weight room to be open.

"I need to work with the skill folks and linemen, getting them used to the terminology and technique. We could meet sooner (than July 1)."

When not coaching, Bennett enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, fishing and golf -- though he said his link game isn't the best in the world.