Monday, June 12, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Jimmy Burleson

Assistant Athletic Director

Dobyns-Bennett High School

Ph.: (423) 378.8400 ext. 8490

[email protected]

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Legendary coach Bob Bingham has stepped down as the head of Dobyns-Bennett Cross Country but will continue his role with the track and field team. Mike Sweeney, who is currently an assistant coach with D-B Softball, has been named as his successor. 

“It just feels like the right time,” said Bingham. “I still have a desire to coach and that’s why I plan to continue with track and field. But, stepping away from cross country will ultimately give me more time with my family and grandchildren. I have no doubt the program that Coach Dan Crowe and Tom Coughenhour built will continue trending in the right direction under the leadership of Coach Sweeney and running guru Ray Jones.”

Bingham has been at the helm since 2008. In that time he has secured 6 Region Championships and coached 15 All-State selections including 3x State Champion & Nike All-American, Sasha Neglia. His girls’ teams have had ten top twelve finishes and five top four finishes, including runner-up in 2016 and a state championship in 2019. His boys’ teams have also had great success, compiling five top twelve finishes at the state level. In addition, Coach Bingham was named “Region Coach of the Year” six different times.

The man set to replace Coach Bingham is one of his former assistants, Mike Sweeney. Coach Sweeney has been a Social Studies teacher at D-B since 2008 and has been a varsity assistant with D-B Softball since 2011. But from 2009-2011, he was an assistant coach with Coach Bingham and the Cross Country & Track team. 

“I am very excited to announce our next head coach,” said D-B Athletic Director Frankie DeBusk. “Coach Sweeney brings a wealth of experience to our program and will be able to continue the tradition of excellence that has already been established here at Dobyns-Bennett.” 

Prior to his arrival at Dobyns-Bennett, Coach Sweeney was the head cross country coach and assistant track coach at David Crockett High School (2003-2008). In 2004 and 2005, he led the Pioneer XC boys to their first and only trips to the TSSAA state championships, finishing 10th and 12th overall, respectively. In addition, Sweeney has coached several runners who have gone on to compete at the collegiate level. Coach Sweeney is also an avid runner himself and has been running for over twenty years, competing in everything from 5Ks to marathons.

“I am incredibly honored to be the next head coach of Tribe Cross Country,” said Sweeney. “To follow in the footsteps of two D-B greats like Coach Coughenour and Coach Bingham is truly special. Coach Coughenhour was especially good to me as a young track coach and I hope to continue the great tradition that he and Coach Bingham have built here. I can’t wait to get started. Roll Tribe!”

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