Concordia University, St. Paul Women's Basketball

Behnke was officially named the program's ninth head basketball coach in April, 2016 after a successful stint as interim head coach in the second half of the 2015-16 season. One of the top post players in Concordia basketball history, Behnke assumed the interim head coach position during winter break of the 2015-16 season and led the program to a 9-10 record highlighted by a 9-6 finish that included an NSIC Sanford Health Tournament first round victory. She's completed her fourth year coaching in the program, spending the first two as a graduate assistant before a promotion to the top assistant position on staff for a year and a half. Behnke returned to the Golden Bears in 2012-13 after a strong stint as a professional player in Australia. She returned to pursue a master's degree in sport mangement and initially was tabbed with working with the post players. As a graduate assistant, the Golden Bears captured two NSIC Championships and an NCAA Central Region Championship with a trip to the Elite Eight during her first two years on staff. Concordia Playing Career The two-time All-Region performer led the Golden Bears to back-to-back NSIC regular season and tournament championships and was two-time NSIC Player of the Year in the process. Also a two-time WBCA All-America honorable mention selection, Behnke set the school single-season scoring record with 551 points as a junior in 2006-07 as she led the Golden Bears to the NCAA Central Region Championship game and the school's second Sweet 16 run. She averaged 16.8 points and 8.6 rebounds while shooting 52.4% from the floor and finished as Concordia's seventh all-time leading scorer despite playing three years for the Golden Bears (2005-08). She had a 30-point, 20-rebound performance in the 2006-07 region title game. Her 726 career rebounds rank second in Concordia's Division II-era (1999-present), just 16 shy of the school record. She also scored 1,426 career points in 94 games, adding 112 steals and 81 blocked shots. The St. Croix Lutheran High School graduate was a business and marketing major at Concordia as an undegraduate. She began her college career at Division I Winthrop University, playing in 27 games with three starts with a Big South Freshman of the Week award. Coaching Beginning Behnke brings prior coaching experience to the Golden Bear huddle, working as an assistant coach at New Life Academy. Professional Playing Career After her Concordia playing career came to a close, Behnke pursued professional basketball in Australia, playing for the Ringwood Hawks where she was a 2010 Big V League MVP and helped the Hawks to a Victoria State Championship. She posted averages of 15.6 points and 14.3 rebounds most recently. She had also worked at Freedom Mortgage in the Twin Cities between Australian seasons.