Geoffrey Bennett, who guided the women's soccer programs at St. Bonaventure and Rhode Island before returning to Hartwick College, his alma mater, was announced Wednesday as the new head coach of Colorado College's women's program.
Bennett, who led Rhode Island to the NCAA tournament in 2002, served last season as assistant coach for Hartwick's men's team, which finished 15-2-1. He was 48-41-9 in five seasons as a Division I women's coach, with three seasons at St. Bonaventure and two at URI.
Bennett, who played at Hartwick and was drafted by the Milwaukee Wave of the indoor National Professional Soccer League in 1994, replaces interim coach Erik Oman, who took charge when former head coach Greg Ryan departed in April 2003 to become U.S. Soccer's Region II women's staff coach.
Colorado College, which was 8-9-2 last fall, competes at the Division I level in two sports — women's soccer and men's hockey — and at Division III in its other sports. Hartwick also competed at the D1 level in two sports, including men's soccer, although the school has announced it will drop to D3 in all sports.
CC was a women's soccer powerhouse in the 1980s and early 1990s, earning eight successive NCAA tournament berths, reaching the semifinals five times and playing in the championship game in 1986 and 1989, losing both to North Carolina.
''History is important,'' Bennett said in a statement. ''That is what you build on. We're going to do our best to bring this program back to where it was during those glory years. It's going to take a lot of hard work on my part, as well as by my staff and our student-athletes. But that's what we're going to strive for.''
Elon and Jacksonville are searching for head coaches. Elon's Paul Webster resigned to take charge of the program at D3 Elmhurst (Ill.) College, and Jacksonville's Mike Johnson has taken charge of the Dolphins' men's team.
NCAA DIVISION I COACHING CHANGES/HIRES
Alabama State (SWAC) — No announcement; new program
Arkansas (SEC) — Gordon Henderson (Idaho State head coach) for Alan Kirkup (contract not renewed)
Arkansas State (Sun Belt) — Jason Wharton (Cisco JC, Texas, head coach) for Kent Hefner (fired)
Cal State Northridge (Big West) — Tony Davila (CS Northridge men's head coach; will coach both teams) for Mac Thompson (interim coach)/Allison Lee (resigned)
Central Michigan (MAC) — Tony DiTucci (interim) for Mark Salisbury (hired at Idaho State)
Cleveland State (Horizon) — Derrek Fallor (DePaul assistant); first-year program
Colorado College (Independent) — Geoffrey Bennett (Hartwick men's assistant) for Erik Oman (interim)/Greg Ryan (U.S. Soccer Region II women's staff coach).
Davidson (Southern) — Tiffany Tisdale (interim) for Kevin Hundley (resigned)
Elon (Southern) — Open; Paul Webster (hired at Elmhurst College).
Fresno State (WAC) — Open; Stacy Welp (resigned)
George Mason (CAA) — Diane Drake (Georgetown head coach) for Jac Cicala (resigned)
Georgetown (Big East) — Dave Nolan (Georgetown assistant) for Diane Drake (hired at George Mason)
Georgia Southern (Southern) — Ashley Hart (UAB assistant) for Tom Norton (resigned)
Holy Cross (Patriot) — Deborah Flaherty (West Chester head coach) for Mary Curtis (resigned)
Idaho State (Big Sky) — Mark Salisbury (Central Michigan head coach) for Gordon Henderson (hired at Arkansas)
Jacksonville (Atlantic Sun) — Open; Mike Johnson (hired as Jacksonville men's coach).
Long Beach State (Big West) — Open; Peter Reynaud (retired)
Mercer (Atlantic Sun) — Grant Serafy (Stratford Academy boys and girls coach) for Jodie Smith (resigned)
Minnesota (Big Ten) — Mikki Denney Wright (Missouri assistant) for Barbara Wickstrand (contract not renewed)
Montana (Big Sky) — Neil Sedgwick (USC associate head coach) for Becky Duerksen (resigned)
Morehead State (Ohio Valley) — Greg Sheen (Dayton Soccer Academy coaching director) for Leslie Faber (resigned)
Nevada (WAC) — Teri Patraw (former Arizona State head coach) for Dang Pibulvech (contract not renewed)
San Diego State (Mountain West) — Michael Giuliano (Westmont head coach) for Chuck Clegg (retired)
San Jose State (WAC) — Dave Siracusa (San Diego State men's assistant) for Cris Gilmore (resigned)
Temple (Atlantic-10) — David Jones (Temple men's assistant, served as interim 2003) for Seamus McWilliams (resigned)
Tulsa (WAC) — Rena Richardson (Alabama assistant) for Damon Gore (resigned)
Vermont (America East) — Kerry Dziczkaniec (Maryland assistant) for Jodi Kenyon (resigned)
Youngstown State (Horizon) — Anthony James (West Virginia Wesleyan head coach) for Elizabeth Bartley (contract not renewed)