Bennett fired by CWU

ELLENSBURG – Blaine Bennett has been fired as the football coach at Division II Central Washington just days before the Wildcats begin fall camp.

The school announced the decision Friday. Long-time assistant John Picha has been appointed to be the Wildcats’ interim head coach.

Athletic director Dennis Francois said the school chose to move in another direction and that a national search for a permanent head coach would start after the season.

“I was, to say the least, shocked,” Bennett told the Ellensburg Daily Record.

Bennett, the son of former Whitworth coach Blaine “Shorty” Bennett, was hired in 2008 after Beau Baldwin left to become head coach at Eastern Washington.

Bennett, who played quarterback at Idaho and Whitworth, was 41-16 in his five seasons as Central’s coach.

Picha joined the football staff in 1988.