Entering his second year at the helm of the Cavalier golf programs, Rob Bennett and his teams have already seen some major success and set multiple school records.

In his first year as the head coach, Bennett led the men’s program to its first team title since the program was reinstated in fall 2013, shooting a school-record 585 (296-289) at the NWOSU Fall Invitational. Bennett helped lead his team to one individual title, five top-3 individuals, and numerous top-10 and top-20 individual finishes.

Bennett also led the women’s program to new heights in his first year. The SGU women were able to consistently improve their scoring average as the year progressed, resulting in the team setting and breaking their own single-tournament round scoring record numerous times. The current record was set in the last team event of the year with the ladies shooting 345 on the final day of the OBU Spring Invitational. Bennett also coached the women to one top-5, one top-10, and three top-15 finishes individually.

Bennett, a native of Stillwater, Okla., played golf collegiately at his alma mater, Southwestern Oklahoma State University. There he earned both his bachelor’s degree in psychology and his master’s degree in community counseling. He played four years for the Bulldog golf team.

With a passion for sport psychology, Bennett has also provided specialized sport psychology training to multiple collegiate golf teams and individuals.

Bennett and his wife, Whitney, have been married since June 2012. They live in Shawnee with their dog, Millie.

Don Sumner has served St. Gregory’s for more than 40 years in various capacities. He was an instructor and coach at St. Gregory’s for 35 years before retiring in 1997, and returned to the university in 2006 as its athletic director.

Sumner took over a basketball program that was only three years old in 1961, serving as head men’s basketball coach and interim women’s basketball coach. In that span, he compiled 621 wins, led the women’s basketball team to its first winning season, was named the Bi-State Conference Coach of the Year five times and earned the Region II NJCAA Coach of the Year Award. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Baptist University Sports Hall of Fame in in 1967, the St. Gregory’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2009.

Sumner also was an instructor of natural sciences during his time at St. Gregory’s, teaching biology, zoology and nutrition. He was named St. Gregory’s College Teacher of the Year in 1977. In 1997, he served as alumni director and men’s golf coach. He served as athletic director from 1970 to 1996. Sumner has received two Benedictine Service Medals for his contributions to St. Gregory’s.

A Shawnee resident for more than 70 years, Don received his bachelor’s degree in science from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1958 and earned a master’s degree in natural science from the University of Oklahoma in 1966. He lives with his wife, Jenetta, in Shawnee.