Bennett returns home to coach Arizona State after 25 successful seasons at Saint Mary’s

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) – Randy Bennett turned down repeated overtures to leave Saint Mary's for bigger schools, yet always kept an eye on his hometown team.

Key points

• Bennett grew up regarding 10 minutes from Arizona State's campus and has always rooted for the Sun Devils, even during his 25 years with the Gaels.
• So when the Arizona State job opened, coinciding with Gonzaga's departure from the West Coast Conference, the 64-year-old coach decided it was time to come home.
• Bennett had plenty of success at Saint Mary's, leading the Gaels to the NCAA Tournament 12 times while earning WCC coach of the year honors seven times.
• "How many guys get a chance to coach in their hometown at the big school?" Bennett remarked.

"How many guys get a chance to coach in their hometown at the big school?" Bennett remarked. "I've always thought it could be a great job. I still think it can be."

Bennett had plenty of success at Saint Mary's, leading the Gaels to the NCAA Tournament 12 times while earning WCC coach of the year honors seven times. He faces a different kind of challenge at Arizona State.

While Saint Mary's typically only had Gonzaga to worry regarding, the Sun Devils play in the Sizeable 12, one of the nation's toughest conferences with six teams ranked in the AP Top 25 preseason poll.

In short, bennett returns home to coach Arizona State after 25 successful seasons at is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.