Dick Bennett addresses the crowd during Dick Bennett Night Feb. 7 at the men's basketball game at the Resch Center. UW-Green Bay honored the nationally celebrated former Phoenix coach with the announcement the program's new practice court would be named in his honor.

Bennett coached the Phoenix for 10 seasons, 1985-95. He is shown here at center court, awaiting his turn to speak, alongside a framed collection of clips and memorabilia that was presented to him by the University.

Chancellor Bruce Shepard introduced Bennett by noting he made Green Bay "the envy of the college basketball world." He also said it is appropriate, given Bennett's impact as a teacher of the game, that the main practice facility at the new Kress Center "will be forever known as Dick Bennett Gym."

Current UW-Green Bay Coach Tod Kowalczyk (back to camera, left) paid tribute to Bennett's legacy. Listening were Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt (who would present the Hall of Fame coach with a framed mayoral proclamation of "Dick Bennett Day"), Bennett, and Ken Bothof and Adam Halfmann of Phoenix Athletics.

Was it a surprise? Must have been. The legendary coach closed his eyes in apparent disbelief when Chancellor Shepard announced the naming of the "Dick Bennett Gym."

Bennett made a point of acknowledging the community's support. He told the crowd of 4,721 his Phoenix teams took pride in playing not only for UW-Green Bay, but for Green Bay and all of Northeast Wisconsin.

Familiar territory: The coach meets the press following the ceremony. In the background, hanging proudly at the Resch Center, is a display of post-season banners to which his teams contributed. Under Bennett, the Phoenix made NCAA appearances in 1991, '94 and '95, and NIT appearances in 1990 and '92.

Dick Bennett Gym at the new Kress Events Center on campus is the first facility named for the longtime coach, whose 40-year career also included time as a Wisconsin high school coach, as architect of UW-Stevens Point's NAIA tournament teams, as a Final Four coach for the Wisconsin Badgers, and as rebuilder of the Washington State Cougars program now headed by his son, Tony. (Photos of Resch Center event courtesy of student Matt Becker, Fourth Estate.)