Volleyball - Tuesday 6/28/2005
Steve Benson to Guide Men's and Women's Volleyball Programs at EMU
Eastern Mennonite University welcomes Steve Benson to its Athletic Department staff as both men�s and women�s volleyball coach starting with the 2005-06 academic year.
�Steve will contribute a high level of knowledge and experience about the game of volleyball to our men's and women's teams,� commented Interim Director of Athletics Greg Steffen. �His love of the game and excitement for developing young Christian athletes will provide wonderful college athletic experience for our volleyball teams.�
�I am looking forward to the challenge that both the men�s and women�s programs have to offer at EMU,� stated Benson. �I also look forward to developing relationships with the student-athletes and teaching them what I have learned both on the volleyball court and off throughout my life.�
Benson comes to EMU from Lake-Sumter Community College in Leesburg, Fla., where he served as women�s volleyball assistant coach for three seasons and head coach for the last two seasons. Under his supervision, the Lakers won at least 20 matches in four of five seasons and qualified for the state tournament in each of the last four seasons.
Prior to that, Benson spent four years as head coach at Leesburg High School in Florida. Over the years, he has gained experience at all age levels and at various degrees of competitiveness. In addition to his collegiate and scholastic coaching experience, he has coached club volleyball for six years, covering ages 12-18. In 2003 he guided the 16-and-under team to a first-place finish in the state of Florida, and his 2001 squad finished runner-up in the 16-and-under club division.
In addition, Benson has national coaching experience with the High Performance Program. In 2002 he assisted the Junior National age group for Team Florida, which finished tied for seventh. In 2004 he was an assistant coach with the Youth National age group for Team Florida and helped guide the team to the national championship. Currently he is the head coach for the High Performance age group for Team Florida.
Benson played four years of collegiate volleyball at North Park University, an NCAA Division III institution in Chicago, Ill. In his junior and senior seasons, he also filled the role of coach for the Vikings.
�I�m excited to be coming to coach at a college that is similar to where I attended school and learned to love volleyball. I also enjoy helping students grow through the game of volleyball,� Benson commented.
At EMU, Benson will be the first dual men�s and women�s volleyball coach in the history of both programs. He replaces men�s coach Fred Miller who spent one year at the helm and guided the Royals to a 13-8 overall record and a final national ranking of 11th. Miller left EMU to serve an administrative role at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church. On the women�s side, he replaces Dr. Ruth-Anne Wideman, who guided the Lady Royals to an overall record of 110-151 in nine seasons. Wideman is now the Undergraduate Faculty Chair for Religious Studies at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va.
�Steve will contribute a high level of knowledge and experience about the game of volleyball to our men's and women's teams,� commented Interim Director of Athletics Greg Steffen. �His love of the game and excitement for developing young Christian athletes will provide wonderful college athletic experience for our volleyball teams.�
�I am looking forward to the challenge that both the men�s and women�s programs have to offer at EMU,� stated Benson. �I also look forward to developing relationships with the student-athletes and teaching them what I have learned both on the volleyball court and off throughout my life.�
Benson comes to EMU from Lake-Sumter Community College in Leesburg, Fla., where he served as women�s volleyball assistant coach for three seasons and head coach for the last two seasons. Under his supervision, the Lakers won at least 20 matches in four of five seasons and qualified for the state tournament in each of the last four seasons.
Prior to that, Benson spent four years as head coach at Leesburg High School in Florida. Over the years, he has gained experience at all age levels and at various degrees of competitiveness. In addition to his collegiate and scholastic coaching experience, he has coached club volleyball for six years, covering ages 12-18. In 2003 he guided the 16-and-under team to a first-place finish in the state of Florida, and his 2001 squad finished runner-up in the 16-and-under club division.
In addition, Benson has national coaching experience with the High Performance Program. In 2002 he assisted the Junior National age group for Team Florida, which finished tied for seventh. In 2004 he was an assistant coach with the Youth National age group for Team Florida and helped guide the team to the national championship. Currently he is the head coach for the High Performance age group for Team Florida.
Benson played four years of collegiate volleyball at North Park University, an NCAA Division III institution in Chicago, Ill. In his junior and senior seasons, he also filled the role of coach for the Vikings.
�I�m excited to be coming to coach at a college that is similar to where I attended school and learned to love volleyball. I also enjoy helping students grow through the game of volleyball,� Benson commented.
At EMU, Benson will be the first dual men�s and women�s volleyball coach in the history of both programs. He replaces men�s coach Fred Miller who spent one year at the helm and guided the Royals to a 13-8 overall record and a final national ranking of 11th. Miller left EMU to serve an administrative role at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church. On the women�s side, he replaces Dr. Ruth-Anne Wideman, who guided the Lady Royals to an overall record of 110-151 in nine seasons. Wideman is now the Undergraduate Faculty Chair for Religious Studies at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va.