Phil Bennett Offered Marshall D C Job

MeanGreen61 · January 20, 2008

BREAKING NEWS: Former SMU coach Phil Bennett offered defensive coordinator's job at Marshall

Mark Whipple front runner for offensive coordinator position

by Chuck Landon

Daily Mail sportswriter

HUNTINGTON -- Former Southern Methodist Coach Phil Bennett has been offered Marshall's defensive coordinator job.

"Yes, I did offer it to Phil," said Marshall Coach Mark Snyder today. "He's my first choice. We had him in here this weekend and it was a good visit."

Snyder is seeking a replacement for Steve Dunlap, who left after one season as Marshall's defensive coordinator to rejoin the coaching staff at West Virginia University.

Bennett, 51, coached SMU for six seasons, including a 6-6 record in 2006. But after the Mustangs' record dropped to 1-7 last season, Bennett was notified on Oct. 28 that he would be fired after the final game. The Mustangs finished 1-11.

The former SMU head coach, who is renown as a defensive coach, was seen here in a downtown hotel Friday night.

If Snyder has his way, everyone will be seeing a lot more of Bennett.

"I would like to have Phil," said Snyder. "I just don't know if he will take the job. He had to go back home and talk it over with his wife and kids. He has a daughter, who will be a senior in high school next year. So, they need to talk about it."

Besides that, Bennett has other options.

"He's got another good college offer and, then, there's the NFL," said Snyder. "I hope he takes our job. I have to be honest, he's the first choice. I should know by Tuesday on Phil."

Although Snyder plans to fill the defensive coordinator vacancy first, he also is getting closer to finding an offensive coordinator to replace Larry Kueck, who wasn't retained after last season.

"Mark Whipple is the front-runner," said Snyder.

Whipple is the former Massachusetts head coach, who led the Minutemen to an NCAA I-AA National Championship. Then, he became the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback coach in 2004 under then-Coach Bill Cowher.

New Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin fired Whipple last Jan. 25, however, replacing him with Ken Anderson.

"Mark has been to our practices four of five times," said Snyder. "I really like him. We just have to see if he is going to get any NFL offers."

Snyder insists he will have both new coordinators on-board before Feb. 6.

"I'll have the coordinators before signing day," he said, referring to national signing day.

untbowler · January 21, 2008

BREAKING NEWS: Former SMU coach Phil Bennett offered defensive coordinator's job at Marshall
Mark Whipple front runner for offensive coordinator position
by Chuck Landon
Daily Mail sportswriter
HUNTINGTON -- Former Southern Methodist Coach Phil Bennett has been offered Marshall's defensive coordinator job.
"Yes, I did offer it to Phil," said Marshall Coach Mark Snyder today. "He's my first choice. We had him in here this weekend and it was a good visit."
Snyder is seeking a replacement for Steve Dunlap, who left after one season as Marshall's defensive coordinator to rejoin the coaching staff at West Virginia University.
Bennett, 51, coached SMU for six seasons, including a 6-6 record in 2006. But after the Mustangs' record dropped to 1-7 last season, Bennett was notified on Oct. 28 that he would be fired after the final game. The Mustangs finished 1-11.
The former SMU head coach, who is renown as a defensive coach, was seen here in a downtown hotel Friday night.
If Snyder has his way, everyone will be seeing a lot more of Bennett.
"I would like to have Phil," said Snyder. "I just don't know if he will take the job. He had to go back home and talk it over with his wife and kids. He has a daughter, who will be a senior in high school next year. So, they need to talk about it."
Besides that, Bennett has other options.
"He's got another good college offer and, then, there's the NFL," said Snyder. "I hope he takes our job. I have to be honest, he's the first choice. I should know by Tuesday on Phil."
Although Snyder plans to fill the defensive coordinator vacancy first, he also is getting closer to finding an offensive coordinator to replace Larry Kueck, who wasn't retained after last season.
"Mark Whipple is the front-runner," said Snyder.
Whipple is the former Massachusetts head coach, who led the Minutemen to an NCAA I-AA National Championship. Then, he became the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback coach in 2004 under then-Coach Bill Cowher.
New Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin fired Whipple last Jan. 25, however, replacing him with Ken Anderson.
"Mark has been to our practices four of five times," said Snyder. "I really like him. We just have to see if he is going to get any NFL offers."
Snyder insists he will have both new coordinators on-board before Feb. 6.
"I'll have the coordinators before signing day," he said, referring to national signing day.