Derrick Bennett joined the Saint Leo volleyball coaching staff prior to the 2019 indoor season. He currently serves as an assistant coach for the program.
Bennett joined the Lions from Impact Volleyball Academy in Winter Haven, Fla., where he served as Club Director, Plyometric Instructor and Training Coach as well as Head Coach for many different age groups. He first began at the club in 2009 and worked there for five years before returning in 2017.
In between his two stops at Impact Volleyball Academy he spent one season as a volunteer assistant coach for Southeastern Oklahoma State University where he helped the team go 10-4 in conference play.
Bennett competed collegiately for Warner University in Lake Wales, Fla., and served as the team’s libero his sophomore through senior seasons. While also playing volleyball, Bennett began his coaching journey as an assistant coach for Warner’s softball team. He then branched out to high school volleyball when he took an assistant role for Lakeland Christian High School in 2007.
His first head coaching position came one year later in late 2008 as he was named the head coach at AaWamb Volleyball Club. Bennett also spent time as an assistant at Winter Haven High School and Bartow High School before taking over as head coach of the girl’s team at Winter Haven High School in 2012. His team went 20-5 and earned a trip to the state’s Elite Eight.
Bennett graduated from Warner University in 2008 with a bachelor of arts in exercise science with a minor in coaching.
