Leeman Bennett
Encyclopedia
Leeman Bennett is a former football
coach who served at both the collegiate and professional levels, but is most prominently remembered as head coach of the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons
and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
.
A native of Paducah, Kentucky
, Bennett graduated from the University of Kentucky
, playing at both quarterback and defensive back under head coach Blanton Collier
for three seasons beginning in 1958. During Collier's final season with the Wildcats in 1961, Bennett began his coaching career by serving as an assistant coach with the team.
Bennett continued the following year under new head coach Charlie Bradshaw, then served in the military the next two years. In his first full year as a coach, Bennett was on the staff for Bradshaw's infamous first team that was known as the Thin Thirty
. He resumed his career at Kentucky
in 1965, then moved on to the University of Pittsburgh
the following year. After only one year in the Steel City, Bennett accepted the offensive backs coaching position under Homer Rice
at the University of Cincinnati
in 1967, then was promoted to offensive coordinator the following year.
On February 7, 1969, Bennett assumed similar duties at the U.S. Naval Academy under Rick Forzano
, but left on March 13, 1970 to become offensive backs coach with the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals
. Bennett survived a coaching change after his first season, but left after the 1971 NFL season
to become an assistant with the Detroit Lions
.
After Chuck Knox was hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams
in January 1973, he hired Bennett as the team's receivers coach. Over the next four years, the team's high-powered offense helped the team reach three NFC Championship game
s, but fell short of a Super Bowl
berth. Despite coming up short, Bennett became a head coach for the first time when he was hired by the Falcons on February 3, 1977.
During his first season in Georgia, Bennett's defense became known as the "Grits Blitz" for its ferocious style and allowing just 129 points, a record for a 14-game season. The overall improvement of the team became evident the following year, when the Falcons defeated the Philadelphia Eagles
in the NFC Wild Card game, then put up a strong fight against the defending Super Bowl
champion Dallas Cowboys
.
After the team endured a losing season in 1979, Bennett led the team to its first NFC West
title and a then-team record 12 wins. However, a fourth quarter collapse against the Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs abruptly ended the season.
While another losing record followed in 1981, the team won its final three games, giving hopes of another comeback. However, the strike-shortened 1982 NFL season
saw Bennett's team finish 5-4, reaching the postseason in the expanded playoff system, but losing the first round game to the Minnesota Vikings
. A late season slump, coupled with the playoff losses and overall inconsistency, resulted in Bennett being dismissed on January 14, 1983. He was the first coach in team history to leave the team with a winning record, going 47-44 (including a 1-3 record in the playoffs). Jim Mora
also left the team with a winning record, 26-22.
For the next two years, Bennett sold recreational vehicles before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
hired him on January 23, 1985, to replace the retiring John McKay
. However, Bennett's previous success did not come with him to Tampa, with consecutive 2-14 finishes in both of his years as coach of the Bucs. On December 29, 1986, he was dismissed by team owner Hugh Culverhouse
.
Bennett then returned to Atlanta, where he purchased a car dealership and was named chairman of the selection committee for the Peach Bowl
. In 1991, Bennett sold the dealership and was hired as director of development for the Greater Atlanta Christian School, where his two sons had attended. Eight years later, he co-founded the First National Bank of John's Creek in Alpharetta, Georgia
, and later served as its director. Bennett also contributed to Falcons radio shows.
While still handling his bowl game duties, Bennett is mostly retired, spending much of his free time golfing and hunting. He also spends his time with his family, Grandkids, sons, wife etc. etc.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach who served at both the collegiate and professional levels, but is most prominently remembered as head coach of the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
.
A native of Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky's Jackson Purchase Region and the county seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Ohio River, halfway between the metropolitan areas of St. Louis, Missouri, to the west and Nashville,...
, Bennett graduated from the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
, playing at both quarterback and defensive back under head coach Blanton Collier
Blanton Collier
Blanton Long Collier was an American football coach who led the University of Kentucky and the Cleveland Browns...
for three seasons beginning in 1958. During Collier's final season with the Wildcats in 1961, Bennett began his coaching career by serving as an assistant coach with the team.
Bennett continued the following year under new head coach Charlie Bradshaw, then served in the military the next two years. In his first full year as a coach, Bennett was on the staff for Bradshaw's infamous first team that was known as the Thin Thirty
Thin Thirty
The Thin Thirty refers to the 1962 football team at the University of Kentucky. Coached by Charlie Bradshaw, a Bear Bryant disciple, the team was thinned by his brutal methods from 88 players to just 30. While the team's record was just 3-5-2, it did include a dramatic victory in the season finale...
. He resumed his career at Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
in 1965, then moved on to the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
the following year. After only one year in the Steel City, Bennett accepted the offensive backs coaching position under Homer Rice
Homer Rice
Homer Rice was a college athletic director and football coach. From 1967 to 1968, he served as the head football coach at Cincinnati, where he compiled an 8-10-1 record. From 1976 to 1977, he coached at Rice, where he compiled a 4-18 record...
at the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
in 1967, then was promoted to offensive coordinator the following year.
On February 7, 1969, Bennett assumed similar duties at the U.S. Naval Academy under Rick Forzano
Rick Forzano
Richard Edward "Rick" Forzano is a former American football coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels, most prominently as head coach of the National Football League's Detroit Lions from 1974-1976....
, but left on March 13, 1970 to become offensive backs coach with the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Bennett survived a coaching change after his first season, but left after the 1971 NFL season
1971 NFL season
The 1971 NFL season was the 52nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl VI when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins...
to become an assistant with the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
.
After Chuck Knox was hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
in January 1973, he hired Bennett as the team's receivers coach. Over the next four years, the team's high-powered offense helped the team reach three NFC Championship game
NFC Championship Game
The National Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two semi-final playoff matches of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the...
s, but fell short of a Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
berth. Despite coming up short, Bennett became a head coach for the first time when he was hired by the Falcons on February 3, 1977.
During his first season in Georgia, Bennett's defense became known as the "Grits Blitz" for its ferocious style and allowing just 129 points, a record for a 14-game season. The overall improvement of the team became evident the following year, when the Falcons defeated the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the NFC Wild Card game, then put up a strong fight against the defending Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
champion Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
.
After the team endured a losing season in 1979, Bennett led the team to its first NFC West
NFC West
The NFC West is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: Arizona Cardinals, St...
title and a then-team record 12 wins. However, a fourth quarter collapse against the Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs abruptly ended the season.
While another losing record followed in 1981, the team won its final three games, giving hopes of another comeback. However, the strike-shortened 1982 NFL season
1982 NFL season
The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. A 57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to an abbreviated nine game schedule...
saw Bennett's team finish 5-4, reaching the postseason in the expanded playoff system, but losing the first round game to the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. A late season slump, coupled with the playoff losses and overall inconsistency, resulted in Bennett being dismissed on January 14, 1983. He was the first coach in team history to leave the team with a winning record, going 47-44 (including a 1-3 record in the playoffs). Jim Mora
Jim L. Mora
James Lawrence "Jim" Mora is an American former NCAA defensive back and National Football League head coach. As of 2010, he is currently an analyst for the NFL Network....
also left the team with a winning record, 26-22.
For the next two years, Bennett sold recreational vehicles before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
hired him on January 23, 1985, to replace the retiring John McKay
John McKay (football coach)
John Harvey McKay was an American football player and coach. He was served as the head coach at the University of Southern California from 1960 to 1975 and of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1976 to 1984. In 16 seasons with the USC Trojans, McKay compiled a record of 127–40–8 and...
. However, Bennett's previous success did not come with him to Tampa, with consecutive 2-14 finishes in both of his years as coach of the Bucs. On December 29, 1986, he was dismissed by team owner Hugh Culverhouse
Hugh Culverhouse
Hugh Franklin Culverhouse, Sr. was the longtime owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League . He was a successful tax lawyer, and his real estate investments made him one of the nation's wealthiest men...
.
Bennett then returned to Atlanta, where he purchased a car dealership and was named chairman of the selection committee for the Peach Bowl
Chick-fil-A Bowl
The Chick-fil-A Bowl, formerly called the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and before that simply called the Peach Bowl, is an annual college football bowl game played in Atlanta, Georgia since December 1968. The first three Peach Bowls were played at Grant Field on the Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta....
. In 1991, Bennett sold the dealership and was hired as director of development for the Greater Atlanta Christian School, where his two sons had attended. Eight years later, he co-founded the First National Bank of John's Creek in Alpharetta, Georgia
Alpharetta, Georgia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,854 people, 13,911 households, and 8,916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,631.6 people per square mile . There were 14,670 housing units at an average density of 686.7 per square mile...
, and later served as its director. Bennett also contributed to Falcons radio shows.
While still handling his bowl game duties, Bennett is mostly retired, spending much of his free time golfing and hunting. He also spends his time with his family, Grandkids, sons, wife etc. etc.