Lipscomb women’s basketball head coach Frank Bennett has been named associate athletic director. In accepting this position, Bennett will transition out of his role as women’s basketball head coach, and a national search will begin immediately for his replacement.
Athletic Director Phillip Hutcheson made the announcement on Thursday.
Bennett recently completed his 32nd year as the head coach of the women’s basketball team and is the 25th winningest women’s basketball coach in NCAA history with a record of 583-438.
“Coach Bennett has dedicated the majority of his life to our program and has influenced hundreds of student athletes through his leadership, integrity and walk with God,” Hutcheson said. “I personally appreciate everything he has done for Lipscomb, and I look forward to working with him in this new role.”
Bennett’s program was a NAIA national power and, in a history-making feat, appeared in the NCAA Tournament in the program’s first year of eligibility. Bennett was enshrined in the Lipscomb Athletics Hall of Fame and the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2003.
“Our mission has been to try to create an environment where our players and coaches could grow as a total person — spiritually, socially, academically and in basketball,” Bennett said. “I have been privileged to be part of a program that has a positive impact on our players’ lives. I appreciate our assistant coaches for their hard work, friendship and concern and care for our student athletes. I also appreciate the university offering me the opportunity to continue to make an impact in this new role as associate athletic director. I look forward to the new challenges of this position.”
Bennett guided his teams to eight NAIA National Tournaments, including three consecutive final fours. The women’s team played in the NAIA National Championship game in 1994. He won numerous coaching honors, including NAIA National Women’s Coach of the Year in 1996 and 1999. He produced 22 All-Americans during his coaching career.
A former mathematics and computer science teacher at Lipscomb, Bennett instilled an academic focus in his program. Nine of his players were named All-America Scholar Athletes, and each student athlete who completed her senior year of eligibility has graduated.
Bennett attended Lipscomb from kindergarten through college. He is a 1969 graduate of David Lipscomb High School (DLHS) and a 1973 graduate of Lipscomb University. While in college at Lipscomb, Bennett lettered four years on the men’s tennis team and was the assistant basketball coach for DLHS. He served as head coach of the DHLS girls’ team before taking the helm of the university women’s basketball program.
Hutcheson also announced that Assistant Coach Jada Mincy will direct the team until a new head coach is named.