BOURBON - The Triton school board voted 5-0 to name NorthWood junior varsity coach Joe Bennett as the next head coach of the boys high school basketball team, but not without a bit of controversy.

The search committee, consisting of principal Kelly Simpson, vice principal Glenn Weidner, athletic director Mike Byron, guidance director Hugh Rettinger, girls basketball coach Mark Heeter and Ken Blackford, actually put two candidates in front of the board for consideration.

According to Roth, Bennett was a close second choice by the committee, but the first choice by the board.

"We felt we got the best guy for the job," Roth said. "And it also filled a much-needed teaching position at the school."

Bennett will replace Kevin O'Rourke, who guided the Trojans to a 36-30 record in three years at the school. Bennett will teach math at the high school.

"Kevin O'Rourke did a very good job developing a feeder program," Bennett said. "They've got some history in their basketball program, and they hosted a (Class A) sectional last year."

Bennett led the NorthWood junior varsity team to a 14-6 record last year and has a three year record of 42-18 at the school. He has been an assistant to head coach Dan Gunn for six seasons.

"When you're the head coach everything comes back to you," Bennett said in response to the adjustment that he will have to make in his first head coaching stint. "You just have to live and learn. I think I'm ready, though."

Another adjustment for Bennett will be the difference between a Class 3A school and a Class A school.

"Offensively, you just have to be flexible," Bennett said. "At a small school, your talent is more variable from class to class. Defensively, I like to be aggressive. Depending on the talent, I'll press and try to create extra possessions." [[In-content Ad]]