BOSTON — As just announced by collegeinsider.com, Saint Mary's Head Men's Basketball Coach Randy Bennett has been named as one of the 20 finalists for the 2024 Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award and one of the 20 finalists for the 2024 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award. 

The Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award is presented annually to the top mid-major head coach in college basketball. Coaches of teams in the following conferences are eligible for the award: America East, ASUN, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Coastal Athletic, CUSA, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, MEAC, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, SWAC, Summit, Sun Belt, WAC, West Coast. 

The Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award is Presented annually to the top head coach in division I college basketball.

Both awards will be announced in Phoenix, AZ, site of the men's Division I Basketball
Championship.

Coach Bennett guided the Gaels to a 26-7 record, including a WCC Regular Season and Tournament Title. It was his fifth time leading a Gaels team to a regular season title and fourth time leading his team to a tournament title in his illustrious career. After starting the season with a 3-5 record, Bennett was able to right the ship to the tune of 23 wins in his next 25 at the helm, including a streak of 16 consecutive victories. Bennett was named the WCC Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season, and the sixth time in his career. 

Coach Bennett will lead the Gaels to their third consecutive NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history, as his team gets set to take on Grand Canyon in Spokane on Friday, March 22 at 7:05 PM. 

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