LaRon Bennett

• Second season at Virginia

LaRon Bennett joined the Virginia program in the fall of 2021 to coach the sprints, hurdles and relays for the Cavaliers. He came to UVA after heading up the program at Belhaven University (Jackson, Miss.) from 2019 to 2021.

During the 2022 outdoor season, Jada Seaman advanced to the NCAA Championships in the 200 meters after running personal bests in both the prelims (23.06) and finals (23.00). At the ACC Championships, Jordan Willis took second place while setting the Virginia 400m record with his time of 45.70.

In his first season with the UVA sprints and hurdles program, Bennett guided Jordan Willis to an All-ACC finish in the 400m meters indoors while coaching the 4×400 meter squad to a school-record performance at the Tiger Paw Invitational (3:11.64). On the women’s side, Bennet guided Jada Seaman to a third-place finish in the 200m at the ACC Indoor Championships as well as a second-team All-ACC place in the 60 meters.

At Division III Bellhaven, Bennett served as the director of track and field and cross country. He managed all aspects of the program, saw the program host its first home meet and the American Southwest Conference Outdoor Championships, and was involved in the development and planning for a $1.8 million outdoor track facility. In just three seasons, his student-athletes posted 20 all-time top-10 school performances, two All-American and conference champions and seven were ranked in the top-10 national performance lists.

From 2012 to 2017, Bennett was on the staff at Drake, serving as the Bulldogs interim co-head coach in his final season in Des Moines (Iowa). During his tenure, Drake student-athletes earned nine Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Elite 18 awards, given on the basis of the highest GPA combined with the highest event finisher at the conference meet. He coached nine student-athletes in NCAA first round competition with four MVC champions.

Bennett started his coaching path at his alma mater, Georgia, where he worked as a volunteer assistant. During his tenure with the Bulldogs he coached two SEC champions and 18 All-Americans.

While competing at Georgia, Bennett was a three-time All-American in the 400-meter hurdles (2003-2005) and team captain for one of the top squads in the country.

Bennett competed in the 400-meter hurdles in four United States Olympic Trials (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016) with a semifinal appearance in 2012.  He was a silver medalist in the 4×400 relay and a bronze medalist in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  He finished sixth in the 400-meter hurdles at the USATF Championships in 2010.

A native of Brunswick, Ga., Bennett earned his undergraduate degree from Georgia in child and family development and has a master’s in secondary education from the University of Phoenix. He and his wife, Kali, have a son, Malachi, and daughter, Naomi.