Fresno State Athletics
Natalie Benson introduced as head women’s water polo coach
6/30/2016 5:12:00 PM | Water Polo
Fresno State will begin competition during the Spring of 2018 as a member of the Golden Coast Conference.
FRESNO, Calif. – Natalie Benson was formally introduced as the first head women's water polo coach in Fresno State history at a press conference held Thursday at the Fresno State Aquatics Center.
Benson's hiring is a monumental step forward in the process of Fresno State starting a program from the ground up. The Bulldogs will begin competition on during the spring of 2018.
"Today we're hiring an exceptional coach to create our new water polo team for the young women all around the state and beyond," President Joseph I. Castro said. "A coach with California ties and the credentials of Coach Benson was absolutely critical in starting this new program."
Benson, a native of La Habra, Calif., joins Fresno State after three successful seasons at Marist where her teams reached the finals of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament each year and won the 2015 regular-season MAAC championship, while she was also twice named MAAC Coach of the Year. She has also had coaching success at the youth international level, leading teams to medals at the Junior Olympics and Pan American Youth Water Polo Championships.
"Our goal was always to get the best coach and best person to be a part of Fresno State, and I believe we did that," Fresno State Athletics Director Jim Bartko said.
A champion as a coach, Benson also flourished in the pool as a player. She is a two-time Olympian, who has won gold medals at multiple World Championships for Team USA. Also a three-time NCAA champion at UCLA, she led the Bruins to a 33-0 record during her final season in Westwood while earning the 2005 Cutino Award as the National Player of the Year.
"I am excited to be a part of this department," Benson said. "Having an institution like Fresno State add water polo was exciting for both the state of California and the water polo in general.
"For me , it's a dream come true to be coaching at a high-level institution , the sport I love, in a place that has the same values as I do."
While her water polo career has given her the opportunity to travel across the world, has provided her the opportunity to coach elite athletes at all levels, California is where her love for the sport began, and it is now where she will continue to foster others' love the sport.
"One thing that attracted me to [Fresno] was the type of people, the values of the community and the level of excitement from top to bottom, not only within the institution itself, but throughout the water polo community—not just in the Valley, but also in the state of California," Benson stated. "Having this type of reaction to the sport being added, as a coach, is part of what will get kids to come here and be a part of this program."
When Fresno State begins competition, it will do so as a member of the Golden Coast Conference.
"On behalf of the Golden Coast Conference and the other eight women's water polo members, we welcome Fresno State into the GCC membership and congratulate Natalie Benson on being selected as the first women's coach for the Bulldog program," said GCC Commissioner Mike Daniels in a statement. "I cannot wait to see the building of this first year team and will be excited for Fresno State's first conference games coming in the Spring of 2018."
"Be Bold" - The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes 1600 AM.
Benson's hiring is a monumental step forward in the process of Fresno State starting a program from the ground up. The Bulldogs will begin competition on during the spring of 2018.
"Today we're hiring an exceptional coach to create our new water polo team for the young women all around the state and beyond," President Joseph I. Castro said. "A coach with California ties and the credentials of Coach Benson was absolutely critical in starting this new program."
Benson, a native of La Habra, Calif., joins Fresno State after three successful seasons at Marist where her teams reached the finals of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament each year and won the 2015 regular-season MAAC championship, while she was also twice named MAAC Coach of the Year. She has also had coaching success at the youth international level, leading teams to medals at the Junior Olympics and Pan American Youth Water Polo Championships.
"Our goal was always to get the best coach and best person to be a part of Fresno State, and I believe we did that," Fresno State Athletics Director Jim Bartko said.
A champion as a coach, Benson also flourished in the pool as a player. She is a two-time Olympian, who has won gold medals at multiple World Championships for Team USA. Also a three-time NCAA champion at UCLA, she led the Bruins to a 33-0 record during her final season in Westwood while earning the 2005 Cutino Award as the National Player of the Year.
"I am excited to be a part of this department," Benson said. "Having an institution like Fresno State add water polo was exciting for both the state of California and the water polo in general.
"For me , it's a dream come true to be coaching at a high-level institution , the sport I love, in a place that has the same values as I do."
While her water polo career has given her the opportunity to travel across the world, has provided her the opportunity to coach elite athletes at all levels, California is where her love for the sport began, and it is now where she will continue to foster others' love the sport.
"One thing that attracted me to [Fresno] was the type of people, the values of the community and the level of excitement from top to bottom, not only within the institution itself, but throughout the water polo community—not just in the Valley, but also in the state of California," Benson stated. "Having this type of reaction to the sport being added, as a coach, is part of what will get kids to come here and be a part of this program."
When Fresno State begins competition, it will do so as a member of the Golden Coast Conference.
"On behalf of the Golden Coast Conference and the other eight women's water polo members, we welcome Fresno State into the GCC membership and congratulate Natalie Benson on being selected as the first women's coach for the Bulldog program," said GCC Commissioner Mike Daniels in a statement. "I cannot wait to see the building of this first year team and will be excited for Fresno State's first conference games coming in the Spring of 2018."
"Be Bold" - The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes 1600 AM.
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