Ronald K. "Hoss" Bennett was born on May 7, 1933 in Clarksdale, MS. He attended Clarksdale High School and graduated in May, 1953. During high school, he received the following honors: Best Senior Athlete - 1952: Co-Captain Football team - 1952; All Big Eight Football/End - 1951; All Big Eithg Football/Back - 1952; All Big Eight/Basketball - 1953. He attended Mississippi State in State College, Mississippi and graduated in May, 1957 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. During his college years, Hoss received the following honors: All Southeastern Conference (SEC) Freshman Team (Football) - 1953; All SEC End - 1956; Academic All-American - 1955 & 1956; Best Defensive End in SEC - 1956; Co-Captain Football - 1956. Coach Bennett coached 32 and a half years during his career - Clarksdale High School (1958-1959); Hazlehurst (1959-1963); Clarksdale-Coahoma High School (1963-1966); Clarksdale High School (1966-1990). His coaching record as Head Coach in football shows that he coached a total of 280 games. he won 166, lost 114 and tied 3. This constituded a 59% winning average. His professional education and athletic organizations include the Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC) Board of Directors (1968 - 1972); MAC Vice President (1970 - 1971); MAC President (1971-1972); Big Eight Conference President (1973-1974); MAC Lifetime member; Mississippi Professional Educators member (1977-1990). Coach Bennett's professional honors include the National Council of Secondary School Athletic Directors - Mississippi Athletic Director of the Year (1976-1977 and 1986-1987); National High School Athletic Coaches Association - Athletic Director of the Year/Region 5 (1986-1987); Jackson Touchdown Club - Assistant All-Star Football Coach (1978); Jackson Touchdown Club - Head All-Star Football Coach (1979); Mississippi Association of Coaches - Hall of Fame (1988); Mississippi Association of Coaches - Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Football Coach (1988).