Bennett Court Dedication

A couple of weekends ago we had the honor to be part of Pointer (UWSP) history. Jack and Dick Bennett had the Quandt Fieldhouse floor renamed after the two of them; Bennett Court.  It was amazing to see all of the Pointer fans come out and support the two of them. There were Alumni from both generations of the two coaches. What a tribute!  We just wish that everyone would have been able to make it. Unfortunately, the family members who chose to follow in their fathers footsteps were not able to make it. Nick is coaching down at FGCU.  Dick's son and one daughter are coaches as well. Tony is at Washington State and Kathi is at UW.  

Both Dick and Jack getting honored by the Pointer fans!

This is what the floor will look like next year.

The Bennett Family 

Seven kids between our family and Dick's other daughter's family...YIKES!

Drew thought it was so cool that we were actually able to go out onto the floor during half time. Something he always wants to do. 

I think this is where Jay was pretending that the floor was getting name after him. 

What a goof ball!

Some of the Alumni that came to honor Jack. 

Of course they all went to the Final Score afterwards. What a great time it was!

Below is an article that I found online at bleachreport.com, that sums of the two brothers accomplishments.

Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009 was a big day for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point basketball family.

The Pointers honored two former coaches, Dick and Jack Bennett, by naming the UWSP home floor in the Quandt Fieldhouse "Bennett Court."

The Bennett brothers had tremendous success while at the Division III college in Central Wisconsin. Dick started his career at UWSP in 1976, and Jack ended his there in 2005 after winning back-to-back National Championships.

Dick's career as a Pointer stretched from 1976-85, in which he won 173 games and coached former NBA player and now Phoenix Suns head coach Terry Porter. Saint Louis University head coach Brad Soderberg also played under the elder Bennett.

Dick then moved east in the state to take on a struggling UW-Green Bay Phoenix team. He spent 10 years there, and eventually his son Tony became the star player.

One year after Tony's graduation, the 1993-94 12th-seeded Phoenix beat fifth-seeded California, who had Jason Kidd and Lamond Murray on the Bears roster.In 1995, Dick took over for Stan Van Gundy to lead the Wisconsin Badgers. In five seasons with the Badgers, Bennett had a 94-68 mark and led the 1999-2000 team to a Final Four birth.

Prior to that season, the Badgers had appeared in just three NCAA Tournaments in the previous 97 years. Dick resigned just three games into the 2000-01 season, claiming he was "just simply drained."

Dick made a comeback for three seasons (2003-06) as head coach of the Washington State Cougars. After his retirement, his son Tony took over the helm.

Where Dick Bennett started his coaching career, his younger brother Jack, ended his.

Jack spent a total of 34 years coaching various high schools in Wisconsin, and then landed the head job for the Pointers in 1996.

In his nine seasons at UWSP, Jack became the all-time winningest coach in school history, amassing a 200-56 overall record.

He led the Pointers to five consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championships and appeared in five NCAA Div. III tournaments.

In his final two seasons at UWSP, Jack led the Pointers to back-to-back National Championships.

Jack also had his son, Nick, as one of the leaders of those two teams. Nick Bennett was second in team scoring both of those seasons.

Jack retired after his repeat title with a career coaching record of 480-175.

Together, the Bennett brothers accounted for 373 wins in their 18 combined seasons at Stevens Point.

As a UWSP alum (class of 2007), and now a Pointer fan for life, I would like to congratulate both Jack and Dick Bennett for all of their accomplishments with UWSP basketball.

We are so proud of what the two of you have accomplished. What great role models you are for your children and grandchildren.