Christmas came early for the men's soccer team when Louis Bennett was named the team's new head coach on Wednesday.

Formerly the head coach at cross-town rival Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Bennett will take over a Golden Eagles squad that went 5-11-1 in 2005.

"We're pleased with the decision," said junior midfielder Bryan Dahlquist. "I have a lot of respect for him because he's beaten us the past two years."

During Bennett's time at UWM, his teams beat a lot of teams, compiling a 136-63-17 record in 10 seasons as a member of the Horizon League.

Conferences played some part in Bennett's decision to take the job at Marquette. The Golden Eagles play in the Big East, where the profile and competition level of the members are much higher.

"This is an opportunity to go against the best on a consistent basis and to work toward being the best," Bennett said.

Bennett's prior coaching success led athletic director Bill Cords to believe the former UWM coach was the right man to take over a struggling program.

"I've always respected and admired what (Bennett) has accomplished," Cords said. "It became clear that we had a shared vision, goals, passion and desire to be successful."

It became so clear so fast that Cords made the decision to hire Bennett without consulting the five-player group of team representatives that was supposed to help pick out the new head coach.

"Once you get to a certain point, the process moves very quickly," Cords said. "When a head coach (of another team) is involved, there is a high level of confidentiality because he is the head coach somewhere else."

The team representatives admit they were shocked and confused by the quick decision and their uninvolvement in it, but they also said they understood why things happened the way they did after Cords explained the situation to them.

As for their thoughts on the new coach, many players were ready to play under a new style of leadership.

Bennett "is a coach who demands a lot of discipline (from his players)," said sophomore defender Mike Carlson. "He gave the impression right away that he is very serious about (the team) and that he wants to win and thinks we can win."

As of now, Bennett admits to knowing "very little" about Marquette's players, but that will change after the beginning of the year when coaches can begin working more with their teams.

"The main part is personal relationships," Bennett said. "The players need to feel they'll have their needs addressed and be challenged. I can't do that alone."

And because he can't, Bennett said he hopes to build "one of the best coaching staffs in the country."

That staff may include some of his assistants from UWM. It may also include Barry Bimbi, a Golden Eagles assistant coach in 2005.

At the moment, the composition of Bennett's staff is up in the air.

"I haven't evaluated anybody yet," Bennett said. "Right now, I'm assessing every possibility and every situation."

Bennett's diligence doesn't surprise freshman midfielder Andy Gill. Growing up in Hartland, Wis., Gill attended many of Bennett's soccer camps and got a first-hand glimpse at the coach's personality.

"He's a great coach. He's really dedicated and very organized," Gill said. "Everybody knows their role (on his teams)."

As Bennett builds relationships with his new players and roles begin to be defined, the lofty goals that Marquette's newest head coach has established will come closer to fruition.

"We are in the Big East to win the thing," Bennett said. "If we can't win (the conference), then we want to finish as high as possible and get to the NCAA tournament. No one at Marquette trains to be second."