Tim Bennett Joins Women's Soccer Coaching Staff
Aug 18, 2014 | Women's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. - Tim Bennett, the Executive Director of Omaha FC, has joined the UNO women's soccer coaching staff as an assistant coach for the 2014 season.
Bennett has been the OFC Executive Director since July 2013 and will continue in that role while assisting the Maverick program through the 2014 season. Bennett replaces Ted Anderson, who resigned in the offseason to pursue other professional opportunities.
“I am very excited to be a part of the UNO family," Bennett said. "When the opportunity presented itself to help Coach Klosterman out in any way, even for a short amount of time, I could not pass it up. This situation is great for me both personally and professionally. Don was my club coach on the first Gladiator team here in Omaha. Since, he has been a mentor to me and a good friend. I now get the chance to help repay him in some small way for all that he has done for me.
"Professionally, I get the chance to apply 15 years of Division I college coaching experience in my hometown of Omaha and be a part of a great program and university. This also helps associate Omaha FC with a great school and team.”
Head Coach Don Klosterman said Bennett is an excellent coach who will make the team better. "He has head coaching experience and has been an associate head coach at two Division I programs. I feel fortunate that we are able to hire someone with that much experience and knowledge."
Before joining OFC in July 2013, Bennett was the associate head coach at Arizona, where he was responsible for coaching, technical and functional trainings, managing recruiting camps, training sessions, compliance and team schedules.
Prior to his stint at Arizona, Bennett was a coach for the Dallas Texans Soccer Club in the Elite Clubs National League beginning in March 2009. With the Texans, Bennett coached three teams while assisting with three others. He was responsible for the technical and tactical development, as well as assisting players and families during the college recruiting process. Bennett coached two State Cup champion teams with the Texans, two Region III champions, two Disney Showcase champions, three national championship finalists and won the U19 USYSA National Championship in 2011 with the Dallas Texans 92 girls.
Previously, Bennett was the associate head coach at Iowa State in 2008. With the Cyclones, Bennett recruited one of the most decorated classes in school history and was responsible for several other key aspects of the program, including budgeting, scheduling, compliance and academics.
Before coaching at Iowa State, Bennett had a successful three years as the head coach at Portland State. Bennett's teams produced some of the most accomplished seasons in program history, including a school-record 12 wins over his three-year tenure. Under Bennett's guidance, Portland State produced 18 All-Big Sky selections, including five first-team members, along with 29 Academic All-Big Sky honor roll performers. The 2006 recruiting class ranked first in the Big Sky and 22nd in the West Region.
Bennett's first collegiate head coaching opportunity was at North Dakota in 2004. In his only season, Bennett led UND to a 14-5-2 overall record.
In his four combined seasons as a head coach, Bennett compiled a coaching mark of 30-39-7 and coached five all-region and 10 first-team all-conference performers. He has also coached three conference MVPs.
Before his head coaching career began, Bennett was an assistant at Kentucky for eight seasons. He was an assistant for the men's team from 1996-99 and the women's team from 1999-2003. He helped lead his teams to a combined 60-32-7 overall mark, four NCAA Tournament appearances and the highest national rankings in school history (No. 9 in 2000 and 2001).
Bennett received a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from Providence College in Rhode Island in 1992. At Providence, Bennett was a four-year starter and captain for the men's team. He was a two-time Academic All-Big East selection in 1989-90, and a member of the Right Guard All-Big East Team in 1990.
