University of Puget Sound Women's Crew

Benson. He was named the Northwest Conference Coach of the Year in April 2015 after leading the women's crew to a conference title and its 13th consecutive appearance at the NCAA championships. In 2014, hehe guided the men to a team championship in the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference. Since Benson came to Puget Sound in the fall of 2012, both the men's and women's varsity eight crews have been undefeated versus Division III competition. Last season the women's varsity eight and second varsity eight both earned bronze medals at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships, while the men's varsity eight progressed to the grand final at that regatta for the first time in a decade.  Prior to joining the Loggers, Benson spent seven years as an assistant coach for the women's rowing team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In addition to his duties at MIT, Benson served as the Director of the USRowing Boston Development Camp for three years, helping numerous U-23 scullers earn medals at the USRowing Club National Championships.  Though he came to Puget Sound from Cambridge, Mass., Benson is no stranger to the Northwest. He is a native of Seattle, where he began his passion for rowing at the Pocock Rowing Center. He attended Willamette University, where he rowed for four years. After graduating from Willamette, Benson was an assistant coach at Ithaca College in New York, helping lead the Bombers' women's crew to back-to-back NCAA Division III national championships in 2004 and 2005.  Benson holds a Bachelor's degree in exercise science from Willamette and a Master's degree in exercise physiology from Ithaca. He also has a Level III USRowing certification and is a NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist. He lives in Tacoma with his wife and two sons.