The National High School Basketball Coaches Association (NHSBCA) has selected Grosse Pointe North girls’ basketball coach, Gary Bennett, to receive the 2026 John Wooden Legacy Award. This award is presented annually by the NHSBCA, in partnership with the John Wooden family and the Wooden Foundation, to one male and one female coach in each state who is a long-time, active basketball coach who also serves as an outstanding educator and who, through their excellence on the court, in the classroom and in the community, embodies the characteristics and legacy of coach John Wooden - Excellence, Longevity, Character, Leadership, and Service. Coach Bennett was hired to teach math and coach the girls basketball team at North back in 1983. He ended up teaching math there for 30 years and currently is still coaching the varsity girls basketball team. In 2014 he was inducted into the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Fame. His greatest passion as a coach has been focusing on developing upstanding, contributing members of society who demonstrate kindness, empathy, honesty, integrity and a strong sustained work ethic for the greater good of the whole.