Men's basketball coach Ronny Thompson will have one more slot to fill on his staff before the beginning of next season.
Michael Bennett, who was director of basketball operations, has decided to leave the program after one season on former coach Tim Buckley's staff. He is leaving to take a job with Johnson & Johnson, focusing on pharmaceutical sales.
"I felt like I had an opportunity to pursue," Bennett said. "After Coach Buckley got reassigned, I put my r+â-¬sum+â-¬ out. They called me back two weeks ago, and they offered me the position."
Bennett's duties with the team included academics, scheduling, practice planning, film exchange and game film editing among other duties. He is also a former Ball State University basketball player. He received four letters, finishing up his playing career in 2005. Bennett graduated in 2004 with a degree in general studies.
Bennett said one of the reasons he left the program was the financial opportunity, not because of Buckley's departure. He also said he and Thompson got along well.
"We have a great relationship," said Bennett of Thompson. "We really developed well from the beginning. That's why this was a hard decision for me to take this job. It is a little bit more money than I was getting at Ball State and a great opportunity to try something new."
Thompson said Bennett meant a lot to the program, but financially, Bennett needed to take the new job.
"I couldn't afford to keep him," Thompson said. "He's got a heck of an opportunity. The money he can make is great. He was crazy if he didn't pursue it."
This doesn't necessarily mean the end of Bennett's coaching career. While there might be a chance he gets back into coaching in a couple years, his full attention is going towards his new company.
"Right now I just want to get settled with this job and do it the best that I can and try not to take on too many things at once," Bennett said.
Thompson also said Bennett is welcome to return to the Ball State program any time he wishes if he chooses to come back and coach basketball.
"I told him if he wants to get back into it just give me a buzz," Thompson said. "Sometimes when you get out of school you don't know what path you're going to go. The fact that Michael is going to get some experience in another field will help him become a better coach if he decides to get back into it."
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