Volleyball 5/4/2023 10:30:00 AM PC Athletic Communications

Benson Tabbed to Lead Blue Hose Volleyball Program

CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College athletic department has announced its next head of the school's volleyball program on Thursday. Steve Benson, who's spent the past six seasons as the head Men's Coach at Limestone, has been tabbed to lead the Blue Hose volleyball program as announced by Athletic Director Rob Acunto.

"The combination of Steve's proven ability to build successful volleyball programs, to improve student-athlete performance, and his broad range of experiences in the volleyball community made him the ideal choice to lead our women's volleyball program," commented Athletic Director Rob Acunto. "His passion for the sport, understanding of the student-athlete model and strong desire to lead a Division I volleyball program were also evident throughout the interview process. We look forward to Coach Benson leading our outstanding group of volleyball student-athletes who aspire to reach the next level of success within the Big South Conference."

Benson becomes the program's fourth head coach in the DI era of Blue Hose athletics after spending the past six years directing the men's volleyball program at Limestone. He compiled 81 victories over his time with the Saints including a 16-12 mark in the recently completed spring season. In the 2023 season, Benson directed a pair of All-IVA honorees as Limestone claimed third place in the 2023 IVA Championships.

"I would like to thank Athletic Director Rob Acunto, Senior Associate Athletic Director Dee Nichols, Assistant AD Zach Sheaffer and the selection committee involved in this process," Benson commented. "I am honored to be chosen to lead the volleyball program and represent the Blue Hose family in the best way possible."

Limestone tallied a program-record 18 wins during the 2022 campaign which included a 7-1 start under Benson's direction. Over the course of the season, the Saints racked up nine sweeps over opponents, including a 3-0 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round of the IVA Championships. Benson helped guide three student-athletes to Off The Block Independent First Team Honors while one of them also garnered Off The Block Freshman of the Year and Player of the Week accolades.

In 2020, the Saints got off to a 13-5 record before the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly ended their season nine matches before the finish with a record of 5-4 in Conference Carolinas play that would have placed Limestone in fourth in the league which would have set them up for a ninth straight run at a conference title.

In the midst of a program-defining year in 2020, the Saints won nine matches in straight sets and needed just four additional victories to set a new program record for wins in a single season.

Prior to his stint at Limestone, Benson spent three seasons as the head men's volleyball coach at Warner University. During his time at Warner, he compiled an overall record of 64-22 which included a pair of trips to the NAIA National Invitational Championship where the school finished as national semifinalists both times.

Throughout his coaching career he has spent countless hours working with USA Volleyball on both the men's and women's side. He coached and was victorious in the 85th US Open Men's Tournament while also being honored with the AVCA Women's Assistant Coach South Regional Award.

Before his time at Warner, Benson served as the Sport Development Manager for the Florida Region of USA Volleyball. He oversaw all aspects of the Florida HP All-Star program and served as the assistant coach for the Florida WAVE women's professional team and then as the head coach for the Florida WAVE men's professional team.

Benson got his collegiate coaching start at Lake-Sumter Community College in Leesburg, Fla., serving there from 2000 through 2005 before spending several seasons as head coach for the men's and women's squads at NCAA Division III Eastern Mennonite University, in Harrisonburg, Va.

He obtained a bachelor's degree in Physical Education K-12 from North Park University in Chicago, Ill. in 1993 and a Master's of Education from Troy State University in Alabama in 2004.

A native of Bellingham, Wash., Benson currently lives in East Spartanburg with his wife, Aimee, along with their dog and two cats.

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