Charles Bentley Obituary

AVON PARK, FL - It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of beloved husband, father and grandfather Dave Bentley.

Charles David Bentley, born August 19, 1947 in Jenkins, KY and most recently of Avon Park, FL, passed away at 3:08 p.m. on Wednesday, September 27 in the Vitas Hospice unit of the Advent Hospital in Lake Wales.

Bentley, a highly respected teacher and basketball coach at the high school and college levels, spent his life involved with sports. After a standout career at Jenkins High School in Eastern Kentucky, he attended West Point, where he played for Coach Bob Knight for a season. Bentley left the military academy to return home to Eastern Kentucky, attending Morehead State and then resuming his playing career at Clinch Valley College, just across the state line in Southwest Virginia.

After graduating from Clinch Valley, he received his master's degree from Union College and began his coaching career in 1971, as an assistant to Powell Valley High School legend Burrall Paye. Those Powell Valley teams won a state championship and catapulted Bentley to his first head coaching job at Twin Springs High School in Nickelsville, VA. Bentley had success with the Titans, but the highlight of his time coaching at the small Scott County school was the opportunity to coach his younger brother, Mark, who was a solid point guard on a surprisingly good squad.

After a few years in Nickelsville, he got the opportunity to move on to a larger Virginia school - Carroll County High School. Bentley took a program not known for basketball success and turned it into a powerhouse, winning District and Regional championships and competing in the state tournament for the first time in the school's history. His success at the school garnered enough attention for small colleges to take note, and he returned to his alma mater Clinch Valley College to become the head coach of a program that had never experienced a winning season.

That designation - no winning seasons in school history - didn't last long, however, as Bentley built a reputation for tough, pressure defense and intelligent, gritty play. The school had its first winning season in 1981-82 and Bentley had his first post-season appearance at the college level.

In the middle of his college run, however, he decided to return to high school coaching. The local high school, J.J. Kelly, was looking for a coach, and he was eager to take the job and coach his two sons, Matthew and Jared. Bentley became one of the most successful coaches in school history, coaching 17 seasons and collecting 260 wins. Bentley recorded five consecutive 20-win seasons, multiple Coach of the Year awards, five LPD championships, five LPD tournament championships and one Region D championship. His teams also appeared in two State tournaments during his nearly two decades at the school.

After retiring at Kelly, he returned again to his alma mater, now known as the University of Virginia's College at Wise, where he served as an Assistant Coach to Lee Clark during the 2002-03 season in which the team earned its first Conference Title and first appearance in the NAIA National Tournament. He is a member of the University of Virginia's College at Wise Sports Hall of Fame.

Many of his former players and assistant coaches, including Clark, have gone on to become successful head coaches at the high school and college level, carrying on a legacy of hard work, preparation, and knowledge of the game.

Bentley was preceded in death by his mother and father, Marie and Charles Bentley and his brothers Michael (who passed in infancy) and Mark. He is survived by his loving wife Sue Bentley, who was by his side for 54 years, from the moment they met until the moment he closed his eyes, his sister Barbara Hale and her husband John, his sister Judi Bentley and her husband Bob Lee, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. His sons Matthew (and wife Carey) and Jared (and wife Vanessa) are extremely proud of their father and hope they can set a comparable example for Cole and Adelaine, the grandchildren Dave Bentley was so very proud of.

The family will be traveling to Wise, Virginia to celebrate his life with friends and family October 15 at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. They hope to have friends and family gather and enjoy remembrances of his life, sharing their favorite Dave Bentley stories.