What better way to celebrate his one year anniversary of joining the Gustavus Women's Soccer Program than WAFFLES WITH BENTON?! Having breakfast and getting to know Coach Benton a little bit better was such a sweet treat. I (Junior Jana Elliott) always leave with a smile on my face after talking to the coaches, but after this conversation of laughs, it was too good not to share with you...So, it's now your time to realize how awesome Benton is and why we love having him as a coach at Gustavus. He is so intelligent on the field, and a pretty cool dude off of it...
1. What did Benton do over J-Term?
Since he has his other job, it was a lot of work. He also went to Florida and got his Advanced National Diploma for coaching through the NSCAA. This was over his 30th Birthday. He also spent time with his family, "did the Christmas thing, pretty low-key."
2. What’s a winter tradition he does with his family, if any?
They always go to a movie when they celebrate Christmas and then come back and open presents. The first time he remembers going was to go see the first Toy Story because he thought it was cool that the toys came alive.
3. Who is Benton's favorite professional player?
David Beckham because it is "the perfect storm of him being good, of him being famous, of him marrying a spice girl. We played the same position and him revolutionizing the position by him being dominant at one skill." And I asked Benton, "which was?" So quickly, and without hesitation he answered, “Crushin’ balls” (aka accurate long passes).
4. Most memorable moment of His soccer career?
Benton's last summer soccer season because they were a pretty good team. It was a big game against his team (the #2 seed) and the #1 seed, and he scored a gimme goal late in the game. Probably looking a little ridiculous, but relishing in the sweet moment, Benton took off his jersey and whipped it around his head. It was the game winning goal.
5. What is Benton's hidden talent?
"I don't know if it’s a talent, because I'm not really talented at anything but...compassion, being able to put myself in other people’s shoes, relate to their situation and being there to support them in time of need." This helps give him an edge as a soccer coach because it is hard to connect with players if you cannot relate to them, and he does a phenomenal job with us and all of his players.
6. If he could live anywhere in the world, where in the world would we find Benton, and why?
"When I’ve imagined this, I've always imagined myself wealthy enough to have smaller dwellings in multiple places."
Dwelling #1: An apartment in New York City. He likes the city life, but not enough to have it be his permanent home. He would enjoy people watching, going to the MET, Broadway shows, and sitting court side at the Knicks games.
Benton's last summer soccer season because they were a pretty good team. It was a big game against his team (the #2 seed) and the #1 seed, and he scored a gimme goal late in the game. Probably looking a little ridiculous, but relishing in the sweet moment, Benton took off his jersey and whipped it around his head. It was the game winning goal.
5. What is Benton's hidden talent?
"I don't know if it’s a talent, because I'm not really talented at anything but...compassion, being able to put myself in other people’s shoes, relate to their situation and being there to support them in time of need." This helps give him an edge as a soccer coach because it is hard to connect with players if you cannot relate to them, and he does a phenomenal job with us and all of his players.
6. If he could live anywhere in the world, where in the world would we find Benton, and why?
"When I’ve imagined this, I've always imagined myself wealthy enough to have smaller dwellings in multiple places."
Dwelling #1: An apartment in New York City. He likes the city life, but not enough to have it be his permanent home. He would enjoy people watching, going to the MET, Broadway shows, and sitting court side at the Knicks games.
Dwelling #2: Have something tropical. It doesn't matter where, just to get away from the cold.
Dwelling #3: In Minnesota, he would like to convert a barn into a house. By growing up in Iowa, it gives him the feel of home. It would be a dream to have "wide open spaces, a flexible floor plan…house would be pretty epic."
7. What is the best part of his job here at Gustavus?
The best part of Benton's job here at Gustavus is being around the team - " With any relationship you get to know each other and be real, the relationship just keeps growing everyday."
8. Highlight of his first season with the team?
"The Hamline game…we had been good, but it was the first game we had something on the line…its was an important game…the way we squeezed out the win in overtime was quite the accomplishment to hang our hats on, that we finished second in regular season."
9. What did Benton enjoy studying the most in school?
He had a coaching minor so those classes were his favorite. He had to coach different sports too, so it was a challenge to figure out a new game and come up with a philosophy for that and then tie it into thinking about how he thinks soccer should be played.
10. Most epic embarrassing moment
In Disney world as a family, his mom gave him and his brother camel packs instead of water bottles while at the park. The two were leaving the park together and Coach B needed a bathroom, but they got on the pivot bus back to the hotel instead. Thinking he could make it all the way back to the hotel without relieving himself, the bus had to stop at a hotel just before theirs. Little B didn't make it to the bathroom and wet himself. His brother felt bad, pushed Benton into the pool after so no one knew he wet himself.
11. Favorite breakfast food?
BACON -would eat bacon on anything. Has eaten a pound of bacon in one sitting and within the last week.
12. How would Benton spend his ideal Sunday?
Sleeping in. 9 hours of watching football
13. Motto to live by?
Find what makes you happy, and just do it.
14. Best advice from Benton's mom?
"She’s a pretty smart lady… 'treat a game like it’s practice…get out of your own head, it’s a bad neighborhood.' 'Do you want to facilitate recess the rest of your life?"...changed his path in life.
Dwelling #3: In Minnesota, he would like to convert a barn into a house. By growing up in Iowa, it gives him the feel of home. It would be a dream to have "wide open spaces, a flexible floor plan…house would be pretty epic."
7. What is the best part of his job here at Gustavus?
The best part of Benton's job here at Gustavus is being around the team - " With any relationship you get to know each other and be real, the relationship just keeps growing everyday."
8. Highlight of his first season with the team?
"The Hamline game…we had been good, but it was the first game we had something on the line…its was an important game…the way we squeezed out the win in overtime was quite the accomplishment to hang our hats on, that we finished second in regular season."
9. What did Benton enjoy studying the most in school?
He had a coaching minor so those classes were his favorite. He had to coach different sports too, so it was a challenge to figure out a new game and come up with a philosophy for that and then tie it into thinking about how he thinks soccer should be played.
10. Most epic embarrassing moment
In Disney world as a family, his mom gave him and his brother camel packs instead of water bottles while at the park. The two were leaving the park together and Coach B needed a bathroom, but they got on the pivot bus back to the hotel instead. Thinking he could make it all the way back to the hotel without relieving himself, the bus had to stop at a hotel just before theirs. Little B didn't make it to the bathroom and wet himself. His brother felt bad, pushed Benton into the pool after so no one knew he wet himself.
11. Favorite breakfast food?
BACON -would eat bacon on anything. Has eaten a pound of bacon in one sitting and within the last week.
12. How would Benton spend his ideal Sunday?
Sleeping in. 9 hours of watching football
13. Motto to live by?
Find what makes you happy, and just do it.
14. Best advice from Benton's mom?
"She’s a pretty smart lady… 'treat a game like it’s practice…get out of your own head, it’s a bad neighborhood.' 'Do you want to facilitate recess the rest of your life?"...changed his path in life.
"Grandma said…'I never did see straight with the world.'”
15. What’s something that makes Benton happy?
"Completing a workout, winning soccer games. Having a positive influence with soccer players, whether it be at Gustavus or at Mankato United. It's a great feeling to have when players remember the things you helped them with, it feels like you’re making an impact."
16. 3 CD’s Benton would want with him on a deserted island?
Melissa Ethridge –Brave and Crazy
Rage against the machine –Bulls on parade
TV on the Radio - no specific disk
15. What’s something that makes Benton happy?
"Completing a workout, winning soccer games. Having a positive influence with soccer players, whether it be at Gustavus or at Mankato United. It's a great feeling to have when players remember the things you helped them with, it feels like you’re making an impact."
16. 3 CD’s Benton would want with him on a deserted island?
Melissa Ethridge –Brave and Crazy
Rage against the machine –Bulls on parade
TV on the Radio - no specific disk
HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY BENTON!
Do you have other questions for Benton? Ask him at bfrayne@gustavus.edu
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