:Verne S. Bennett

{{Infobox college coach

| name = Vernon S. Bennett

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1867|1|1}}

| birth_place = Prattsburgh, New York, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1944|10|26|1867|1|1}}

| death_place = New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

| player_years1 =

| player_team1 =

| player_positions =

| coach_years1 = 1894

| coach_team1 = Michigan State Normal

| overall_record = 5–2

| bowl_record =

| tournament_record =

| championships =

| awards =

| coaching_records =

}}

Vernon S. Bennett (January 1, 1867 – October 26, 1944) was an American college football coach. He served as the head football at Michigan State Normal School—now known as Eastern Michigan University—one season, in 1894, and compiling a record of 5–2.

Early years

Bennett was born in Prattsburgh, New York{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0MegAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22Verne+S.+Bennett%22&pg=PA42|title=The Aurora|publisher=Eastern Michigan University|year=1895}} to "Mr. and Mrs. E.N. Bennett".{{citation |url=http://fentonhistsoc.tripod.com/id55.html |publisher=Fenton Historical Society |work=Fenton Independent Newspaper |date=July 15, 1938 |access-date=January 5, 2011 |title=Bennett, Clare A.}} At the birth of his younger brother Clare in 1871, the family resided in Lapeer, Michigan. He enrolled at Michigan State Normal School in 1891, and while in school he served as president of the Normal Athletic Association, and as editor of the Atheneum Society.{{citation |title=The Aurora |year=1893 |publisher=Michigan State Normal School |page=80}} In 1892, he served as an enrolling and engrossing clerk for the Michigan House of Representatives. As a senior, he gave a commencement oration on international law, which is recorded as being "especially fine."{{citation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1hQLAAAAIAAJ&dq=%22Verne+S+Bennett%22&pg=PA62 |title=The Inland Educator: a journal for the progressive educator |volume=1-2 |year=1895 |page=62}}

Coaching career

Bennett was the fourth head football coach at Michigan State Normal School—now known as Eastern Michigan University—in Ypsilanti, Michigan, serving for one season, in 1894, and compiling a record of 5–2.{{Cite web

|last=DeLassus

|first=David

|title=Eastern Michigan Coaching Records

|publisher=College Football Data Warehouse

|url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/mac/eastern_michigan/coaching_records.php

|access-date=December 30, 2010

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205035939/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/mac/eastern_michigan/coaching_records.php

|archive-date=December 5, 2010

}}

Later life

Following his time as the football coach, Bennett resided in Fenton, Michigan with his family, and later in New Orleans. He died there in 1944.http://nopl.minisisinc.com/NOPL/scripts/mwimain.dll/225032/1/0?SEARCH&ERRMSG=[WWW_NOPL]NoRecord.htm