A graduate of the university and a veteran assistant coach with the programs, Kyle Bennett enters his second season as head coach at California (PA) in the 2024-25 campaign.
Bennett previously served six years as an assistant coach with the Vulcans before being appointed head coach in the summer of 2023. During his time with the golf programs, Cal has featured multiple PSAC Athlete of the Year and PSAC Freshman of the Year recipients with a combined 16 All-PSAC selections.
Last fall, the men’s team posted its best finish at the PSAC Championships in six years and Reese Watson earned an individual qualifier to the NCAA Atlantic/East Regional Championships in May. Watson collected both All-PSAC and PING all-region status after pacing the team with one of the program’s lowest scoring averages in the last 15 years.
Bennett previously worked with three-time, all-region honoree Ryan Smith. He placed third overall at the 2017 PSAC Championships, as the Vulcans finished second in the team standings, and the following year was named the PSAC Champion Scholar. Smith closed his junior campaign by finishing in 10th place at the regional championships, which Cal hosted at Totteridge Golf Club in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
On the women’s side, Bennett has helped the Vulcans record a trio of top-three finishes at the PSAC Championships. Cal placed second at the 2023 PSAC Championships behind multiple top-five golfers on the individual leader board with both later receiving All-PSAC laurels.
Bennett aided in the development of four-time All-PSAC honoree Rachel Wilson, who was also tabbed the 2019 PSAC Freshman of the Year. She earned All-PSAC first-team status in each of her last three seasons while carding a top-three finish at the league championships each year.
A native of New York, Bennett was one of six finalists for the 2022 Jan Strickland Outstanding Assistant Coach Award presented by TaylorMade Golf Company. He was the lone NCAA Division II finalist among the group as the other assistants were from Kansas, North Carolina, Pepperdine, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest.
Bennett previously served as an assistant golf professional at Lone Pine Country Club in nearby Washington, Pennsylvania. While residing in Washington County, he also spent time as a coach at the scholastic level by working with the junior varsity program at Trinity High School.
Bennett earned his bachelor's degree in professional golf management with a minor in business administration from Cal in 2012. While pursuing his degree, he spent time working at The Chevy Chase Club in Maryland, the Country Club of York in Pennsylvania and Valley Brook Country Club in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.
As a senior at Cal, Bennett played for the PGM club team before becoming the Tri-State Assistant Tournament Points Leader in 2016. He has posted seven top-10 finishes at the Tri-State Assistant Section Championship in the last eight years and qualified for the 2017 National Assistant Championship. Bennett won the Tri-State PGA Associate Player of the Year Award in 2020.
Bennett was elected into PGA Membership in the fall of 2020. He qualified for the 2024 Tri-State Palmer Cup Team by finishing among the top 10 in the point standings.
