Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
MBB | Randy Bennett Named Jim Phelan and Hugh Durham Coach of the Year Finalist
3/5/2026 1:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BOSTON, Mass. — As just announced by collegeinsider.com, Saint Mary's Head Men's Basketball Coach Randy Bennett has been named a finalist for both the Jim Phelan and the Hugh Durham Coach of the Year Awards. The Jim Phelan Coach of the Year Award is presented annually to the top head coach in Division I college basketball, while the Hugh Durham Coach of the Year Award is presented annually to the top mid-major head coach in college basketball.
Now in his 25th season at the helm of the Gaels, Bennett has led the Gaels to seven West Coast Conference Regular Season Titles, including each of the last four. This season, Bennett has the Gaels at 27-4 heading into the Credit Union 1 West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Championship. Ranked 21st in the county by both the AP and USA Coaches Polls, Bennett even more impressively has kept the Gaels at a high level this season despite losing four starters from last year's squad, including the defending WCC Player of the Year Augustas Marciulionis and WCC Defensive Player of the Year Mitchell Saxen. Two of those new starters, Joshua Dent and Mikey Lewis, both earned their first First Team All-WCC nods, while Paulius Murauskas earned his second straight.
Bennett will look to keep the momentum going for his squad in postseason basketball, starting with the Credit Union 1 West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Championship. The Gaels will open play on Monday, March 9 in the conference semifinals.
#GaelsRise
Now in his 25th season at the helm of the Gaels, Bennett has led the Gaels to seven West Coast Conference Regular Season Titles, including each of the last four. This season, Bennett has the Gaels at 27-4 heading into the Credit Union 1 West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Championship. Ranked 21st in the county by both the AP and USA Coaches Polls, Bennett even more impressively has kept the Gaels at a high level this season despite losing four starters from last year's squad, including the defending WCC Player of the Year Augustas Marciulionis and WCC Defensive Player of the Year Mitchell Saxen. Two of those new starters, Joshua Dent and Mikey Lewis, both earned their first First Team All-WCC nods, while Paulius Murauskas earned his second straight.
Bennett will look to keep the momentum going for his squad in postseason basketball, starting with the Credit Union 1 West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Championship. The Gaels will open play on Monday, March 9 in the conference semifinals.
#GaelsRise
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