Benetatos tabbed for MSJ hoop
By Chuck Clarino Staff Writer – Published: August 5, 2009
On the wall at his office at White Birch Realty, Mark Benetatos keeps a map of Vermont. The map has colored pins stuck at various points where his company has sold country store properties. The map represents the hard work Benetatos has put in and his success as a Realtor. It also reveals some roads that Benetatos will follow in his new job as Mount St. Joseph boys basketball coach.
Benetatos, 52, was chosen from a wide pool of applicants to fill the job vacated by Pat Pockette and his appointment was announced by MSJ Athletic Director Marty McDonough.
“We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Benetatos and I’d have to say that this is the toughest call I’ve ever made,” McDonough said in a recent interview. “In addition to his knowledge of the game, Mark will develop team chemistry and bring a well-disciplined team onto the court.”
Benetatos, a former prep school coach at both Kimball Union Academy and New Hampton School, as well as a highly successful coach at College of St. Joseph, certainly has the credentials for the job.
But why would he choose to go to a small private school that is coming off a season in which the basketball team won its first game and lost the rest?
“I’m excited about the challenge,” said Benetatos. “And that I have always had a lot of respect for MSJ, what they have done and how they do it. Maybe that’s the prep school guy coming out in me but they’ve had a history where they have had a good basketball program. The challenge is to try and build it back.”
As a standout player at Rutland High School, Benetatos knows firsthand about Mounties basketball. During his high school days in the early ’70s, Benetatos played against some strong MSJ teams and loved the competition. But MSJ has changed considerably since those halcyon days. It has a much smaller student body, which means fewer athletes to choose from. MSJ will also drop down a division and play a Division II slate for the first time this winter.
“I’ll have to be patient,” said Benetatos, who claims he’s in for the long haul. “I’m fully aware of the challenge ahead of us.”
Along with a wealth of experience and a strong work ethic, Benetatos brings a knowledgeable and veteran team of coaches to help with the rebuilding program. Former CSJ head coach Jeff White and Jim Madgwick, who has served as both a college and high school assistant, will form the coaching staff that Benetatos has assembled to help him.
“I have a pretty good track record at turning things around but a big part of that job for me has to do with both Jeff White and Jim Madgwick,” he said. “Jeff brings 18, 19 years of coaching experience and a solid basketball mind, and Jim has coached at both CSJ and at West Rutland (with current CSJ coach Phil Bartlett). You need input and the input that Jim and Jeff will give is crucial.”
The team approach is what Benetatos will stress to his squad. He has a desire to build a strong identity as a hard-working team.
“I want hard-working kids; what their talent level is, that’s out of our control,” Benetatos said. “But if they’re hard workers and willing to put an effort into it that extra 10 or 15 percent, they can contribute to turning the program around. Regardless, they are going to see us as a coaching staff, working hard and taking an interest.”
Benetatos has no idea what kind of talent he will have so can’t say for certain what kind of basketball his Mounties will play – whether they will run-and-gun or pound it inside. But he will stress fundamentals and said that the coaching staff will adjust the style to what type of players they are working with.
“I would start on the defensive end; not everybody can shoot the ball or score,” he said. “But if you have a good work ethic, heart and desire, you can play defense. Not knowing the talent, I can’t say what we’ll do. I do have a wish list.”
During his coaching tenure at College of St. Joseph, he built the program to the point where the Saints were selected to participate in the NAIA Division II national tournament in Branson, Mo. So Benetatos understands what needs to be done and realizes that success will not come easily or quickly.
“It will be a process, this is not going to happen in a year,” he said. “What I hope will happen this year is that our team will be competitive and at the end of the game, regardless of the score, people will say, ‘those kids worked hard.’ It will be a question of finding young men who are willing to work within the system and be a part of it. Our hope is that we have a lot of kids interested and have a lot of kids participate, because our style requires that.”
chuck.clarino@rutlandherald.com
