Union announced Tuesday that it has extended the contract of coach Rick Bennett through the 2019-20 season.
Union finished the 2012-13 season 22-13-5 (10-8-4 ECAC), clinching its fourth straight 20-win season and in the process, making Bennett the first coach in program history to record 20 wins in each of his first two seasons behind the bench.
“I would like to thank President [Stephen C.] Ainlay, [vice president of academic affairs and dean of the faculty] Therese McCarty and for the effort and support of [athletic director] Jim McLaughlin in my time as head coach,” said Bennett in a statement. “I would like to express my gratitude toward assistant coaches Joe Dumais, Jason Tapp and Joel Beal for their loyalty and commitment in their two years. Also, I want to acknowledge the Garnet Blades and last but not least, the student-athletes who have given their all for this program.”
In Bennett’s first year as head coach, Union finished 26-8-7 and 14-4-4 in the ECAC.
Bennett has been with the Union program since 2005-06 when he was as an assistant coach and was also the associate head coach with the Dutchmen from 2007-11 before being named head coach when Nate Leaman took the top job at Providence.
