Jonathan Bennett begins his fourth year as athletic director at Montreat College and his first as head men's basketball coach. He took over the post after serving six years as an assistant men's basketball coach for the Cavaliers.

During his six years as an assistant coach, the Cavaliers achieved an amazing amount of success culminating in the 2006 AAC regular season conference championship, the 2006 AAC tournament championship and a trip to the NAIA National Tournament's Sweet Sixteen.

Bennett was born in Newport News, Virginia, and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. He graduated from Asheville Christian Academy where he excelled in several sports, but found his greatest achievements in basketball. He was named to the North Carolina Independent Schools All-State team and was a two time First Team All-Conference performer.

Other accolades included being named to the Asheville Citizen Times' All Region team and leading the state of North Carolina in scoring by averaging 30 points per game as a senior.

Jonathan attended and graduated from Montreat College in 1996 with a degree in English Literature. He served as captain for the Cavalier Men's Basketball Team during both his junior and senior years and was named to the conference's All-Academic team in 1995 and 1996.

After Montreat College, Jonathan went on to complete his master's degree in Sports Management at Appalachian State University in 1998. He also served as graduate assistant coach under head coach Buzz Peterson at ASU. As an assistant coach at Appalachian State, the Mountaineers moved from last place in the Southern Conference to win 22 games during his second year and a share of the regular season Southern Conference championship.

Following his graduation from Appalachian State, Jonathan became the Men's Assistant Basketball Coach at Wabash Valley Junior College in Mt. Carmel, IL, where he coached and recruited some of the best college basketball players in the country. The following year, he moved back to western North Carolina and served as an assistant coach at Mars Hill College.

In 2000, Coach Bennett returned to his alma mater at Montreat College to become Resident Director in Howerton Hall and assume his basketball duties.

Jonathan lives in Marion, NC with his three children Shelby (10), Sophie (8) and Jeremiah (2)

828-669-8011 x. 3401

Lincoln Walters is no stranger to Montreat College.  Walters spent one year (2004-05) as the Cavalier's assistant basketball coach before moving to the Advancement Team for one year.  After his year in Advancement, Lincoln took over the Headmaster position at Marion Christian Academy in Marion, NC. 

During his three year tenure at Marion Christian Academy there was a 71 percent increase in enrollment.  Lincoln also oversaw the development and implementation of a capital building campaign at MCA.  He has served as an assistant coach at both the high school and collegiate level and brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the basketball program. 

Lincoln played basketball at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he graduated with a Sports Management degree in 1999. 

Lincoln had these words to share about his new position:  "My heart in coming on board to the Montreat College Basketball program is to use the game of basketball to help Montreat student athletes understand character, discipline, authority, winning, and life; ultimately guiding them into a (closer) relationship with Jesus Christ.  I'm excited about working with Jonathan.  I think we approach coaching the same way, in that basketball is a tool we can use to see young men grow in Christ.  To me, it doesn't get much more exciting than to use a passion for God's purpose.  My family,  (immediate and in-laws) have a long history with this institution and have poured a lengthy part of our lives into what the Lord is doing here.  Thank you for giving my wife and me the opportunity to continue this tradition."

Headmaster at Marion Christian Academy
•       Raised over $300,000 in three years
•       Initiated and completed "Phase 1" of the capital building campaign by retrofitting an empty 20,000 sq ft facility into a new academic building
•       In-process of building a new Health and Wellness Center ("Phase 2" of capital plan)
•       Helped establish a new athletic conference (Blue Ridge Christian Conference) allowing 1A schools in Western North Carolina to compete in the NCISAA (North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association) in post-season play
•      Assistant Varsity basketball coach: Season record 22-6
•       Varsity Boys placed 4th in the NACA National Basketball Tournament in Dayton Tennessee.

Assistant Basketball Coach, Montreat College; Montreat, North Carolina - 2004-2006
•       Montreat record was 21-9 advancing into the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament as a first seed, and losing in the championship game to Tennessee Weslyan College by eight points.
Teacher/ Basketball Coach, University Christian School, Jacksonville, Florida - 2000-2001
•       Varsity Boys record 23-5
•       Advanced to the second round of the FHSAA 1A state play-offs in post-season
•       Helped students understand discipline, character, grace, authority, and many other attributes of life through coaching, Bible, Physical Education and Health

EDUCATION
B.S. in Sports Administration, 1999
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
College: 1994-1999 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) Chattanooga, Tennessee
•       Recruited in the top 40 recruiting class in the nation and awarded a full athletic scholarship to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
•       Starting point guard as a freshman (1994) and played competition such as Michigan, Purdue, Ohio State, and many other Division 1 institutions.  Competed against Southern Conference opponents like Davidson and Appalachian State
•       Played in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against University of Connecticut
•       Played on the 1997 Cinderella Team that defeated Georgia (3 seed) in round one, Illinois (7 seed) in the round of 32; lost to Providence in the Sweet Sixteen
•       Played under Coaches Mac McCarthy and Henry Dickerson
 
High School:  1990-1994 University Christian School (UCS) Jacksonville, Florida.
•        A first team all-state performer averaging just over 24 points per game, seven rebounds, and eight assists as a senior
•       Earned conference player of the year honors
•       Led UCS to the state finals of the Florida High School Athletic Association in 1A play and a 25-6 record
•       Selected for the Florida High School All-Star Team that toured France
Played on the Florida AAU squad that placed 5 in the Bob Gibbons Tournament in Hickory, NC