Jump to content

Benny Dees

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Benny Dees
Biographical details
Born(1934-12-29)December 29, 1934
Mount Vernon, Georgia, U.S.
DiedMarch 23, 2021(2021-03-23) (aged 86)
Playing career
Basketball
1957–1958Wyoming
Baseball
c. 1958Wyoming
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Basketball
1962–1967Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
1968–1970VCU
1970–1973Western Kentucky (assistant)
1977–1979Georgia Tech (assistant)
1979–1980Georgia Tech {Women's HC}
1980–1985Alabama (assistant)
1985–1987New Orleans
1987–1993Wyoming
1993–1995Western Carolina
Head coaching record
Overall197–144 (college)
Tournaments1–2 (NCAA Division I)
1–1 (NIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
WAC tournament (1988)

Benny Dees (December 29, 1934 – March 23, 2021) was an American college basketball coach. He was head coach of the University of New Orleans Privateers team from 1985 to 1987, the University of Wyoming team from 1987 to 1993 and Western Carolina University from 1993 to 1995. Additionally, Dees served as assistant coach at Georgia Tech, Alabama, and Western Kentucky. In 1987, he led the University of New Orleans to their first NCAA Championship tournament, where they defeated BYU in the first round 83–79.[1]

While attending college at the University of Wyoming, Dees lettered in basketball and baseball.[2] He began his coaching career as head coach of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College from 1962 to 1967. Dees subsequently became the first coach of VCU.[3] Upon retirement, Dees returned to his native Georgia, where he coached high school basketball. He retired as head coach of the Toombs County High School boys' basketball team in 2010. Dees was married to Nancy Dees, who coached women's basketball at the University of West Georgia. Benny and Nancy Dees have one son, Josh Dees, who played basketball for the University of Wyoming and Western Carolina University and now serves as assistant coach at the College of Southern Idaho.

Dees died on March 23, 2021, at the age of 86.[2]

Head coaching record

[edit]

College

[edit]
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
VCU Rams (Independent) (1968–1970)
1968–69 VCU 12–11
1969–70 VCU 13–10
VCU: 25–21 (.543)
New Orleans Privateers (NCAA Division I independent) (1985–1987)
1985–86 New Orleans 16–12
1986–87 New Orleans 26–4 NCAA Division I Second Round
New Orleans: 42–16 (.724)
Wyoming Cowboys (Western Athletic Conference) (1987–1993)
1987–88 Wyoming 26–6 11–5 2nd NCAA Division I First Round
1988–89 Wyoming 14–17 6–10 7th
1989–90 Wyoming 15–14 7–9 7th
1990–91 Wyoming 20–12 8–8 4th NIT Second Round
1991–92 Wyoming 16–13 8–8 6th
1992–93 Wyoming 13–15 7–11 8th
Wyoming: 104–77 (.575) 47–51 (.480)
Western Carolina Catamounts (Southern Conference) (1993–1995)
1993–94 Western Carolina 12–16 8–10 5th
1994–95 Western Carolina 14–14 8–6 2nd
Western Carolina: 26–30 (.464) 16–16 (.500)
Total: 197–144 (.578)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Roach, John (March 13, 2017). "UNO's only NCAA Tournament win was one for the ages". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Benny Dees Passes Away at 86". New Orleans Privateers. March 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "Legendary ABAC basketball coach Benny Dees dies at 86". The Moultrie Observer. March 24, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021.