2011-12 Men's Basketball
TransouthPct.OverallPctStreakHomeAwayNeutral
5-5.5006-17.261Won 13-62-91-2
Coaches
Winston Bennett Image
Winston Bennett
Head Coach- 5th Season
 
     Mid-Continent University men's basketball coach Winston Bennett truly can look his players right in the eye, since he stands tall at 6-7.  He was named Mid-Continent's coach in May, 2007, and is beginning his fourth season in Mayfield.  He also is a popular motivational speaker in Kentucky and surrounding states.
 
     In Bennett's first season, Mid-Continent posted an overall record of 11-22 and placed ninth among 11 teams in the TranSouth Athletic Conference with a 5-15 record.  In 2008-09, MCU took a major stride forward with a .500 season (15-15) and won five more TSAC games than the season before (10-6).  MCU finished fourth in the conference, its highest finish ever.
 
     Under Bennett's direction, MCU took a giant leap forward in 2009-10, posting a 24-13 record, setting a school victories record, and tied for second place in the TSAC with a 12-4 record, its best conference record and placement ever.  MCU earned the number two seed in the 2010 TSAC Tournament, won its quarterfinal game and lost to Freed-Hardeman in a home semifinal game.  He was named TSAC Coach of the Year.
 
     After the conference tournament, MCU was selected to play in the NCCAA Mideast Regional, defeating Tennessee Temple in a home semifinal and the NCCAA's number one team, King College, in the regional final, and went on to finish third among eight teams at the NCCAA National Tournament at Oakland City University (Indiana) in March, 2010.
 
    Including three seasons as head coach at Kentucky State (2000-03; 44-43) and his first three seasons as MCU's head coach (2007-10, 50-50), Bennett's overall coaching record now is 94-93.
 
    Bennett came from Louisville's Male High School in 1984, and moved on to the University of Kentucky, where he played four seasons (1984-88) for legendary coaches Joe B. Hall and Eddie Sutton.  Bennett was a member of the Wildcats' Final Four squad in 1984.  In 133 games, he averaged 10.5 points and ranks 20th in UK history with 1,399 points and averaged 7.8 rebounds per game as a senior in 1987-88.  He still ranks fifth in career free throws made with 368 and seventh in career free throw attempts with 516. The Wildcats won 93 and lost 33 during his playing career, and won 69 and lost just 7 during his two seasons as an assistant coach.  Among his former UK teammates are James Blackmon, Sam Bowie, Rex Chapman, Ed Davender, Roger Harden, Richard Madison, Derrick Miller, Rob Walk, and Kenny Walker.
 
     Bennett was drafted in the third round (64th overall) by the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA and played for three seasons for the winningest coach in NBA history, Lenny Wilkens. He averaged 4.8 points in 134 games for the Cavs from 1989-92, and averaged 10.0 points and 4.2 rebounds in 5 playoff starts in the 1989-90 season. He later joined the Miami Heat for 2 games in 1991-92. In 136 career NBA games, including 92 starts, he averaged 4.8 points and 3 rebounds per game.
 
     Coach Bennett began his coaching career as an assistant at his collegiate alma mater in 1995, under Rick Pitino, one of the most successful collegiate coaches in history.  While coaching with Pitino, the Wildcats won the 1996 NCAA Championship and were runners up in 1997.  After the 1996-97 season, Bennett followed Coach Pitino to the NBA as an assistant for the Boston Celtics.
 
     In 2000, Bennett received his first college head coaching opportunity when he was hired by Kentucky State University and immediately led the Thorobreds to the 2000-2001 SIAC championship and a berth in the NCAA Division II South Regional.  KSU posted a 17-13 record in his first season and then went 14-14 in 2001-02 and 13-16 in 2002-03.
 
     Coach Bennett does not believe in predicting outcomes but can guarantee a Cougar squad deeply committed to excellence.  The team plays extremely hard and represents Mid-Continent University with character and class.
 
     He has been married to Peggy Bennett since 1990, and they have a son, Leontay, and three daughters, Princess, Jasmine, and Stephanie, and a granddaughter. The Bennett family resides in Paducah, Kentucky.
 
 
Howard Dillard Image
Howard Dillard
Assistant Coach- 4th Season
 
     Howard Dillard, Jr. returns for third season as Mid-Continent University's assistant men's basketball coach and became a full-time member of MCU's athletics staff in August, 2010.  Dillard coaches the Cougars' junior varsity squad and serves primary assistant varsity coach as well.  While MCU offers Dillard his first collegiate coaching experience, he has been coaching high school and junior high school basketball in Kentucky for the past eight seasons.
 
    He received his first taste of coaching at Graves County High School in 2000 as an assistant coach. After two years at Graves County, he became assistant coach at Murray High School for one season. The following year Howard began coaching at Hickman County High School, his hometown high school. He served as junior high head coach and assistant coach of Hickman County's high school boys' basketball team for two years before putting in two years at Fulton City High School as assistant coach of the high school boys' team and head coach of the junior high boys' basketball team.
 
    During his 11-year career, Howard helped bring five league championships to four schools. Harboring lofty goals for his new MCU team, Howard describes his main strength as "a sincere love of the game."
 
    Dillard was born in Clinton, Kentucky, September 1, 1979, and is the son of Howard and Frances Dillard, Sr., who still reside in Clinton with his three sisters, Wynita Dillard-Carter, who is MCU's Financial Aid Counselor, Christina and Tamra.  Dillard and his wife, Crystal, reside in Murray, Kentucky.
 
 
Aaron Pearson Image
Aaron Pearson
Assistant Coach- 1st Season