The average college basketball coach’s height doesn’t usually rival that of his players. In fact, usually there’s a comic disparity between a center and a head coach who’s yelling at him.
Winston Bennett is not the usual college basketball coach though. At 6’7 the experienced athlete is the current coach of Mayfield’s Mid-Continent University, a private school with a quality basketball program.
Before making his way to Mayfield Bennett got his start in his hometown of Louisville at Male High School. In fact, he was such a standout at Male that he was named Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball in 1983, plus he was a McDonald’s All-American.
So, when Kentucky came calling Bennett was more than happy to answer. Known as “Steady B” during his time with the Cats, Bennett led the team to the final four and a Sweet Sixteen appearance. More than that Bennett’s talents led him to a professional career following his all-star time with Kentucky.
Immediately after Bennett’s final season wearing the white and blue he sported a more international jersey when he went to play with Italy’s Teorema Arese prior to joining the Continental Basketball Association’s Pensacola Tornados.
Later that year, in the 1988 NBA draft Bennett made it to the NBA when he was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Despite producing solid number during his time in Cleveland he was traded in 1992 to the Miami Heat. Following that season the forward officially retired.
It only took a few years for Bennett to return to the game as a coach, going back to Kentucky to work as Rick Pitino’s assistant coach in 1995. Finding success with Pitino he followed him to the Boston Celtics in 1997 maintaining his assistant coach position.
After a less than stellar year in the pros Bennett again walked away from basketball. Again though, he couldn’t stay away for too long as he accepted the head coach position at Kentucky State University where he led the team to a conference championship.
More recently, Bennett has been in Mayfield since 2007 leading the Mid-Continent Cougars.
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Image courtesy of Nation of Blue