Whoever Syracuse names as its next women’s basketball head coach, Darren Bennett won’t be around to welcome them.

Michigan State announced Friday that Bennett, an SU assistant for the past three years, is leaving Syracuse and will join the Spartans’ staff.

Bennett decided to leave for Michigan State a week before the move became official. After former head coach Marianna Freeman resigned March 18, SU Director of Athletics Jake Crouthamel declared the assistant coaches would be at the mercy of the incoming head coach.

‘As a head coach, they’re normally going to bring some staff with them,’ Crouthamel said. ‘(Bennett) was really rolling dice that were probably going to come up snake eyes. This is a great opportunity for him.’

During Bennett’s three years at Syracuse, the Orangewomen compiled a 40-46 record. Since 2000, Bennett served as Freeman’s top assistant and recruiting coordinator. Bennett helped land the No. 15 recruiting class in the country last season, according to the All-Star Girls Report, with players like Tierra Jackson, Jill Norton and Marchele Campbell.

At Michigan State, Bennett will coordinate recruiting, coach post players and assist with scheduling.

‘We are extremely excited for Darren to join our staff,’ MSU head coach Joanne McCallie said. ‘We look forward to working with Darren because of his numerous contacts, and he will bring a more global recruiting perspective.’

McCallie has known Bennett for years, and the two had correspondence about an assistant coach opening last year as well. Then, Bennett stayed loyal to Freeman. But with his future at Syracuse tenuous at best, he couldn’t turn down the opportunity again when McCallie called.

A position for Bennett opened after former MSU assistant Niya Butts left for Kentucky.

Crouthamel said Bennett’s departure will have no effect on SU’s search for a new head coach.

As of Friday, Syracuse had interviewed three people for the head coaching vacancy. Crouthamel declined to name any of the interviewed candidates or any other possible candidates. He said all of the candidates interviewed met SU’s preferred standard of having five years of Division I coaching experience. Crouthamel said a head coach will be named sometime this week.

Published on April 27, 2003 at 12:00 pm