Gary Edwards of Francis Marion Receives Jack Bennett Award
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Francis Marion men’s basketball head coach Gary Edwards is the recipient of the 2022 Jack Bennett Man of the Year Award.
Edwards surpassed 600 career victories this season, his 38th as a college coach and 16th at Francis Marion. He led the program to consecutive NCAA Division II national tournament appearances in 2018 and 2019 and has been recognized in the Florence, South Carolina area for his volunteer work and contributions to the community.
Edwards guided a young FMU squad to a 13-15 mark this past season, the program's first year as a member of Conference Carolinas.
In 16 seasons on the Francis Marion bench, he has guided the Patriots to 212 victories – second-most in program history. He improved the Patriots' win total in each of his first four seasons in Florence. He also directed FMU to consecutive NCAA Tournament berths in 2018 and 2019, a first in program history.
Edwards is a past recipient of the Pee Dee Area Big Brothers Big Sisters Association's Eugene N. Zeigler Volunteer of the Year Award, and has penned a weekly column in the Florence Morning News during each of the past 15 seasons. He also directs his annual "Four Great Days of Summer" camp for area youth.
The Virginia Beach, Virginia, native has a career coaching mark of 601-478 covering 38 seasons. His teams have made eight national tournament appearances.
The Jack Bennett award committee is a 21-member panel, consisting of 12 current or retired coaches, three members of the national media and five collegeinsider.com staff members.
Bennett won five Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles, made five NCAA tournament appearances and won two national championships. In 34 seasons as a collegiate head coach, he compiled a record of 480-175.
PAST RECIPIENTS OF THE JACK BENNETT AWARD
2021: Bill Fenlon: DePauw
2020: Jeff Gard, Wisconsin-Platteville
2019: Jim Crutchfield, Nova Southeastern
2018: Pat Juckem, Wisconsin-Oshkosh
2017: John Pigatti, South Suburban College
2016: Donte Jackson, Stillman
2015: Ryan Marks, Saint Francis Illinois
2014: Gary Grzesk, Saint Norbert
2013: Luke Reigel, Wisconsin Parkside
2012: Larry Anderson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2011: Pryor Orser, Colorado School of Mines