Lyle Bennett (1985) - Hall of Fame - Central Michigan University Athletics

Lyle Bennett

Induction:
1985
Class:
1926

Spanned four decades as a successful track and field coach (1947-70) ... he was also a fine athlete in football, baseball and track at Central, earning two letters in each sport from 1925-27 ... under his guidance, Chippewa track teams won 118 and lost 81 in dual meet competition ... they also won 11 Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) crowns, nine outdoor and two indoor ... his last six teams all won outdoor crowns ... coached such Central standouts as Jim Podoley, Walter Beach, Ed VanderHeuval, Tom Mayville, Willie Adkins, Dave Myers, Ken Blalock and Jim Nesbitt ... coached a touring U.S.A. team in Africa in 1959 and served as president of the Central Collegiate Conference in 1960 ... elected to the Helms National Hall of Fame in 1962 and is also a member of the Alma College Hall of Fame ... he also coached the Chippewa cross country team ... was a 20-letter winner at Rockford High.