Walton fires football coach Bennett after just 1 season
After just one season in DeFuniak Springs, Walton head football coach and Athletic Director Bobby Bennett has fired and the school has already started its search for his replacement.
The Braves finished the year 0-10 and gave up the most points in school history (410). Walton Principal Russell Hughes cited the team’s record and failure to be competitive as his main grounds for parting ways with Bennett, who relocated from North Carolina to take the job last March and has 18 years head coaching experience at the high school level.
“It was a very difficult year as far as for the program and for the school,” Hughes said. “At this juncture, I didn’t feel like our direction was one that was advantageous for the program at this point.
“Of course the wins and losses played a great part in that. We just didn’t really have a successful year and the direction was a great concern of mine.”
The Braves were outscored 410-80 in 11 games (10 regular season, one preseason).
Bennett, who will serve out the remainder of his contract that expires on Feb. 29, was disappointed and disagreed with Hughes’ decision.
“I don’t agree at all, but it’s his school to run,” Bennett said. “I thought we played a pretty good schedule. I thought we played the best schedule, the best they’ve played in a long, long time.
“Nobody is more frustrated than I was, but it’s his decision to make and I respect it,” Bennett said. “We weren’t going to run anything defensively or offensively that would’ve made a difference.”
Walton’s roster was decimated by injuries much of the year, and the unforgiving schedule had them play teams such as Class A State Champion North Florida Christian, Class 6A Gulf Breeze and perennial power Pensacola Catholic.
“Regardless of what he likes, the schedule is what it was,” Bennett said. “The team before this that went to the playoffs probably would have had a tough time competing in six of those ball games.”
Walton has been taking applications for the position since Dec. 15 and will continue to do so through Jan. 17. After appointing a committee to head the coaching search a year ago following the departure of Lenny Jankowski, this time the decision will be made solely by Hughes.
“I’m just really going to take my time and my goal is going to be to find a proven winner and that’s in character and in the wins and loss record,” Hughes said.
“Someone who can take a program where it is and take it somewhere with a couple coaches and get it where it needs to be.”
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