Football
Bennett, Phil
Phil Bennett
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator
- Email:
- UNTFootball@unt.edu
Phil Bennett, one of the most experienced defensive coordinators in college football, was named North Texas’ defensive coordinator and safeties coach, in January 2021.
Bennett has more than 40 years of coaching experience, including six seasons as the head coach at SMU (2002-2007) and 10 stints as defensive coordinator at 10 different schools. Throughout his career, Bennett has overseen the growth of 56 different players that have gone on to NFL careers.
Overall, he has led defenses in four of the Power Five conferences and coached 108 all-conference players in his time as a coordinator or head coach.
In his first year leading the defense at UNT, Bennett guided one of the most impressive turnarounds in the country. The Mean Green in 2021 posted the biggest improvement of any FBS program cutting its total yards allowed by 144.3 ypg. The UNT defense finished the season with 38 sacks and 87 tackles for loss and had three players earn All-Conference USA honors.
Prior to joining the UNT staff, Bennett had a one-year stint as defensive coordinator at Arizona State.
From 2011 through 2016, Bennett directed the defense at Baylor that was a catalyst to the Bears’ 57 wins in that six-year span, including Big 12 titles in 2013 and 2014. The program’s defense in that stretch produced three All-Americans, four NFL draft picks and 13 All-Big 12 selections.
A native of Marshall, Texas, Bennett joined Baylor’s staff in January 2011, following three seasons as defensive coordinator at Pittsburgh. Pitt played in bowl games all three seasons during Bennett’s tenure and his units produced 13 all-conference players including future All-American and first round draft pick Aaron Donald.
Bennett joined the Panthers after serving as head coach at SMU from 2002-07. While rebuilding the program at SMU, Bennett improved the Mustangs’ win total for three straight seasons, including his 2006 team that reached bowl eligibility and achieved the program’s highest win total in a decade. That squad also received the American Football Coaches Association’s (AFCA) 2006 Academic Achievement Award after SMU earned a 100-percent graduation rate for its freshman class of 2000-01.
Prior to SMU, Bennett was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Kansas State for three years (1999-2001) under Bill Snyder. During his tenure, the Wildcats finished among the nation’s top five in total defense each season, including second in 1999 (235.0 ypg), fourth in 2000 (270.54) and third in 2001 (262.36).
In 1998, Bennett served as secondary coach and co-recruiting coordinator at Oklahoma as he helped the Sooners finish sixth nationally in total defense. In 1997, he was the defensive coordinator at TCU and helped the Horned Frogs earn their highest defensive rankings in five years.
Bennett was the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M from 1995-96 under R.C. Slocum. American Football Quarterly named him its 1995 “Defensive Coordinator of the Year” after the Aggies ranked in the nation’s top 10 in every major defensive category, including total defense (third), scoring defense (third) and pass efficiency defense (second).
From 1991-94 Bennett coached at LSU, including his final three seasons as assistant head coach. In 1994, he was the Tigers’ defensive coordinator. That season, LSU led the Southeastern Conference in every major defensive category and finished eighth nationally in total defense.
Prior to LSU, Bennett held defensive coordinator posts at Purdue (1987-90) and Iowa State (1984-86). He had early career stops at Irving (TX) MacArthur High School (1983), TCU (1982) and Texas A&M (1979-31). He is a 1978 graduate of Texas A&M with a B.S. in education. He was an All-SWC defensive end for the Aggies, helping them earn invitations to the Sun, Bluebonnet and Liberty bowls during his career.
Bennett and his wife Julie are the parents of four children, Sam, Maddie, Katie and Megan. He has three grandchildren.
COACHING HISTORY
1978-81: Texas?A&M, defensive ends
1982: TCU, tight ends and tackles
1983: Irving (Texas) MacArthur HS, linebackers
1984-86: Iowa State, defensive coordinator
1987-90: Purdue, defensive coordinator
1991: LSU, outside linebackers
1992-93: LSU, assistant head coach/linebackers
1994: LSU, assistant head coach/defensive coordinator
1995-96: Texas A&M, defensive coordinator
1997: TCU, defensive coordinator/secondary
1998: Oklahoma, secondary/co-recruiting coordinator
1999-01: Kansas State, defensive coordinator
2002-07: SMU, head coach
2007-10: Pittsburgh, defensive coordinator
2011-16: Baylor, defensive coordinator
2017: Arizona State, defensive coordinator
2021-current: North Texas, defensive coordinator/safeties
Bennett has more than 40 years of coaching experience, including six seasons as the head coach at SMU (2002-2007) and 10 stints as defensive coordinator at 10 different schools. Throughout his career, Bennett has overseen the growth of 56 different players that have gone on to NFL careers.
Overall, he has led defenses in four of the Power Five conferences and coached 108 all-conference players in his time as a coordinator or head coach.
In his first year leading the defense at UNT, Bennett guided one of the most impressive turnarounds in the country. The Mean Green in 2021 posted the biggest improvement of any FBS program cutting its total yards allowed by 144.3 ypg. The UNT defense finished the season with 38 sacks and 87 tackles for loss and had three players earn All-Conference USA honors.
Prior to joining the UNT staff, Bennett had a one-year stint as defensive coordinator at Arizona State.
From 2011 through 2016, Bennett directed the defense at Baylor that was a catalyst to the Bears’ 57 wins in that six-year span, including Big 12 titles in 2013 and 2014. The program’s defense in that stretch produced three All-Americans, four NFL draft picks and 13 All-Big 12 selections.
A native of Marshall, Texas, Bennett joined Baylor’s staff in January 2011, following three seasons as defensive coordinator at Pittsburgh. Pitt played in bowl games all three seasons during Bennett’s tenure and his units produced 13 all-conference players including future All-American and first round draft pick Aaron Donald.
Bennett joined the Panthers after serving as head coach at SMU from 2002-07. While rebuilding the program at SMU, Bennett improved the Mustangs’ win total for three straight seasons, including his 2006 team that reached bowl eligibility and achieved the program’s highest win total in a decade. That squad also received the American Football Coaches Association’s (AFCA) 2006 Academic Achievement Award after SMU earned a 100-percent graduation rate for its freshman class of 2000-01.
Prior to SMU, Bennett was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Kansas State for three years (1999-2001) under Bill Snyder. During his tenure, the Wildcats finished among the nation’s top five in total defense each season, including second in 1999 (235.0 ypg), fourth in 2000 (270.54) and third in 2001 (262.36).
In 1998, Bennett served as secondary coach and co-recruiting coordinator at Oklahoma as he helped the Sooners finish sixth nationally in total defense. In 1997, he was the defensive coordinator at TCU and helped the Horned Frogs earn their highest defensive rankings in five years.
Bennett was the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M from 1995-96 under R.C. Slocum. American Football Quarterly named him its 1995 “Defensive Coordinator of the Year” after the Aggies ranked in the nation’s top 10 in every major defensive category, including total defense (third), scoring defense (third) and pass efficiency defense (second).
From 1991-94 Bennett coached at LSU, including his final three seasons as assistant head coach. In 1994, he was the Tigers’ defensive coordinator. That season, LSU led the Southeastern Conference in every major defensive category and finished eighth nationally in total defense.
Prior to LSU, Bennett held defensive coordinator posts at Purdue (1987-90) and Iowa State (1984-86). He had early career stops at Irving (TX) MacArthur High School (1983), TCU (1982) and Texas A&M (1979-31). He is a 1978 graduate of Texas A&M with a B.S. in education. He was an All-SWC defensive end for the Aggies, helping them earn invitations to the Sun, Bluebonnet and Liberty bowls during his career.
Bennett and his wife Julie are the parents of four children, Sam, Maddie, Katie and Megan. He has three grandchildren.
COACHING HISTORY
1978-81: Texas?A&M, defensive ends
1982: TCU, tight ends and tackles
1983: Irving (Texas) MacArthur HS, linebackers
1984-86: Iowa State, defensive coordinator
1987-90: Purdue, defensive coordinator
1991: LSU, outside linebackers
1992-93: LSU, assistant head coach/linebackers
1994: LSU, assistant head coach/defensive coordinator
1995-96: Texas A&M, defensive coordinator
1997: TCU, defensive coordinator/secondary
1998: Oklahoma, secondary/co-recruiting coordinator
1999-01: Kansas State, defensive coordinator
2002-07: SMU, head coach
2007-10: Pittsburgh, defensive coordinator
2011-16: Baylor, defensive coordinator
2017: Arizona State, defensive coordinator
2021-current: North Texas, defensive coordinator/safeties
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