John Benington
John E. Benington was an American basketball coach who was the head coach of the Michigan State Spartans at the time of his death. He had previously been the head coach for the Drake Bulldogs and Saint Louis Billikens.
College playing career
A native of Findlay, Ohio, Benington attended the University of San Francisco on a football scholarship after he finished his service in the United States Armed Forces during World War II. He was knocked out during his first game and decided to instead play on the basketball team. He played two seasons with the Dons men's basketball|Dons], where he captained the squad that won the 1949 National Invitation Tournament.Coaching career
Benington was the assistant basketball coach at Michigan State University under Pete Newell and Forddy Anderson.Benington served a combined 14 seasons as head men's basketball coach at Drake University, St. Louis University and Michigan State. He led Saint Louis to four NIT appearances including the finals of the 1961 NIT where they lost to Providence.