As he rides around on his cart in every direction on the practice field, Donnell Bennett stops and gets out and watches each station. After offering some coaching advice, he gets back in and moves to another section of the field.

Although Bennett has been on the other side of the analysis and constructive criticisms through the years, being a head coach is sort of new to him. But it certainly fits him well.

Bennett wore the Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons uniform as a top-flight running back in high school. He then played for the University of Miami and made it to the NFL, playing seven seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and one season with the Washington Redskins. But even though coaching might have crossed his mind a time or two, this wasn't what he envisioned after running extra wind sprints or spending extra time in the weight room.

Today, Bennett is the coach at Northeast High in Oakland Park. Although he will be the first to say this wasn't in the plans, it is something that has captured his imagination -- in a hurry.

''I have always loved to teach and help to mold character,'' Bennett said. ``I just wanted to give back a little of what was given to me by my father and those who were instrumental in my life and career.''

A LONG PROCESS

Bennett was never one of those former athletes who thought that just because he played the game, he was automatically going to be a great coach. He acknowledges that everything he is learning now is part of the process -- a process that began as a youth growing up in Fort Lauderdale and carrying over to his high school, collegiate and professional days.

The past few years were spent at his alma mater, assisting coach Mike Morrill and offensive coordinator Matt DuBuc with a growing Cardinal Gibbons team. When Bennett was offered the chance to take over a ''rival'' program, he jumped at the opportunity.

''What the move was about, and still is, was to help teach the young men we have on this team to do things the right way,'' Bennett said. ``We wanted to help develop positive skills and work habits and teach them that nothing comes without making sacrifices and plenty of hard work.''

Within the first weeks of taking over the job, Bennett assembled a coaching staff and started to lay down rules and a game plan for the returning players.

''I learned in all my years in this sport, and as a wrestler, you are only as good as those who are coaching and teaching you,'' Bennett said. ``In order to succeed, you have to surround yourself with people you trust, and

I have to believe that there isn't a coach or a player on this team I wouldn't go into battle with.''

BUILDING DEPTH

Bennett inherited some impressive players from last year's team, but he also had to develop depth by using some incoming seniors at several spots, including running back Audrey Woodson, tight end Richard Perez and cornerback D.J. Francis, a standout last season.

The class of 2010 also includes defensive backs Dennis Aaron and Greg Williams, running back/defensive back Santiago Pierre and quarterback Evan Krivjanik.

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