Benson is entering her second season as the head coach of the CSU Bakersfield cross country program.
In her first season in 2011, Benson was assigned with the difficult task of training a small roster and helping the program adjust to the Division I level. The Roadrunners first season at the D-I level was in 2010 and the program is still adjusting to running in meets against a higher level of competition.
In 2012, Benson will get to coach her first recruiting class, which includes three freshmen in hometown runners Kelsee Moyer and Katelynn Webb, as well as Jenna Bunag of Delano. Benson also added a transfer, Anaiz Ortiz, from Antelope Valley College. Another boost should come from three CSUB track and field student-athletes that Benson convinced to be two-sport athletes in Sara Nielson, Erica Hawkins and Courtney Parker.
The squad also is also much more experienced in 2012, with seven returners from last season.
Benson came to CSUB from the University of Redlands where she served as a graduate assistant coach for the Bulldogs' cross country and track and field programs for the 2010-11 season.
Benson began her coaching career at her alma mater, the University of Wisconsin where she was an assistant coach in 2009.
A Hillsborough, Calif. native, Benson helped led the Badgers to a fourth-place finish at the 2006 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. She was also a member of the highest-scoring cross country team that Wisconsin put together in 10 years. Individually,
Benson qualified for the NCAA Mideast Regional in the 5000 meters as well as provisionally for the NCAA National Championships in the 10,000 meters.
Benson received her business degree in consumer affairs in 2009 from Wisconsin and she is currently pursuing her master's in education from Redlands.
Benson also served as an assistant coach for the CSUB track and field program in 2012 under the now retired director of track and field and cross country, Alan Collatz.
