Tony Benford

[50's PONY]

Sadler selects strong recruiter as assistant coach

By Bill Knight / El Paso Times
El Paso Times

Doc Sadler wasted little time filling the vacancy in his staff, announcing the hiring of former Arizona State and University of New Mexico assistant Tony Benford Friday afternoon.
"I've known since day one that Tony is somebody I was very, very interested in," Sadler said. "We've known each other since the early '80s, when he was a great player at Texas Tech and I was a graduate assistant at Arkansas. Over the years I've coached against him and recruited against him. Tony is not just one of the best coaches and recruiters, but one of the best people."

Benford, who is from Hobbs, N.M., replaces James Holland, who resigned two weeks ago to take an assistant coaching position at the University of Alabama. Benford was an assistant coach at New Mexico for six seasons and has been an assistant at Arizona State under Rob Evans the past eight seasons. He was associate head coach the past two seasons.

"I'm extremely excited to be here," Benford said. "I know the tradition here speaks for itself. I had an opportunity to meet coach (Don) Haskins when I was in high school."

Benford, 42, had verbally accepted a position as an assistant coach at Utah State before the UTEP job came open.

"I had accepted the position at Utah State, but I had not gone there and had not signed any papers," Benford said. "For me, for my family, this is the best place for us. I'm from Hobbs and we are three hours from there. My mom and dad are there. My wife is from Albuquerque. Kids want to play college basketball where it matters and it matters here at the University of Texas at El Paso. I'm also excited to be coaching under Doc, who is one of the best coaches in the country."

And Sadler said, "Tony's next stop is probably going to be as a head coach and we are fortunate to get him."

Benford was MVP of the Southwest Conference Tournament in 1986, was drafted in the fourth round by the Boston Celtics and played professionally in Holland. He was the New Mexico Player of the Year and a Converse High School All-American at Hobbs, averaging 27.5 points a game.

Bill Knight may be reached at [email protected]; 546-6171.

[mustangbill67]

I wonder if Doh ever had an interest in him as a coach.

[50's PONY]

He was on campus and interviewed.