Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Bentley Named Head Football Coach At PC
Bobby Bentley, a 1990 alumnus of Presbyterian College and head football coach and director of athletics at James F. Byrnes High School in Duncan, S.C., was introduced today as the head coach who will guide the Blue Hose football program into the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.
Bentley was selected for the position following a national search to replace Tommy Spangler, who resigned on Jan. 6 to become the defensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech University. Bentley accepted a four-year contract.
"From among an outstanding field of well-qualified candidates, it became clear that Coach Bentley was best suited to lead our program into the future. He presented a clear and aggressive vision for our football program along with an integrated plan to achieve his vision," PC Director of Athletics William "Bee" Carlton said. "He brings a keen football mind to our program which will be reflected by aggressive play on both offense and defense. His teams will be well disciplined and his system and style of play will be exciting for our fans to watch and enjoyable for our players to execute.
"Coach Bentley is a man of character and integrity who understands Presbyterian College and our college's mission and purposes. He will work effectively within this framework of academic and athletic excellence. He also has broad contacts within the southeast, which will contribute to his ability to recruit effectively and will allow him to assemble an outstanding staff who will allow us to become competitive for the Big South Conference championship very quickly."
A 1986 Byrnes alumnus, Bentley served as an assistant coach for the Rebels from 1990-1994 and was named head coach in 1995. His teams compiled a 107-52 record during the next 12 years and tied a South Carolina record by winning four consecutive Class AAAA Division II state football championships from 2002 through 2005.
Following the team's fourth state title, Bentley was honored as Nike's national Coach of the Year. He also was named as the South Carolina Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2006
The Rebels' 2006 season included a nationally televised victory over Glades (Fla.) High School and a win over Moeller High School of Cincinnati in the Ohio vs. USA Kirk Herbstreit Challenge. Byrnes was ranked as high as second nationally in 2006 by USA Today and finished with an 11-2 record -its only losses coming once during the regular season and once in the playoffs at the hands of eventual state champion Gaffney High School.
With those successes under his coaching belt, Bentley said the time was right to move up to the collegiate level. "I've been prepared for this position. I just think it's going to be an exciting challenge," Bentley said. "We've got our work cut out for us. We open up with Furman and have a lot of work to do, but I think I'm up to the task." A former defensive back at PC, Bentley inherits a Blue Hose team that is one year removed from the South Atlantic Conference championship and a trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs. PC finished 7-4 in 2006, handing SAC champion Newberry its only regular-season loss.
"Presbyterian College has a long and proud tradition of football. We are delighted that one of our own, Bobby Bentley, will return to PC to coach the Blue Hose as we make the exciting journey into Division I," PC President John Griffith said. "Bobby's experience as a head coach with an excellent track record will stand our players in good stead as we make the transition, as will his strong commitment to academics. He understands that excellence on the playing field must go hand in hand with excellence in the classroom."
Bentley and his wife, the former Paulette West, are the parents of five children: Chas, 14; Shuler, 11; Jacob, 9; and 2-year-old twins Brooks and Emily
The PC football team completed its final season as a member of NCAA Division II last fall. The Blue Hose will play an independent schedule in 2007 and will become a member of the Big South Conference in 2008. PC will be eligible for conference and NCAA championships beginning in 2011.