641-673-2116
bennetta@wmpenn.edu

Ammon Bennett is in his first season as head men's and women's cross country coach, taking over in January 2010.

Also the assistant bowling coach at Penn, Bennett returns to the cross country program after leading the teams from 1999-2001 and 2003.

Bennett has cross country coaching experience at the prep level as well, heading the harrier team at Bonneville HS (Utah) in 1991-1992.  He also assisted the track program in 1992-1993, assisted the track distance runners at Eddyville-Blakesburg HS (Iowa) in 1997, and headed the boy's soccer team at Avoca HS (Iowa) in 2006.

Bennett, the most successful coach in Lady Statesmen soccer history, rejoins the Penn coaching staff after a five-year absence. He comes to Penn after successfully building both the men's and women's soccer programs at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs.

While at Iowa Western, Bennett started both programs and quickly transformed each into powerhouses. Under his guidance, the women owned an 88-11-8 record and the men held a 63-30-6 mark entering 2008.

The women's program won several conference and regional crowns and the 2006 and 2007 teams both finished as NJCAA national runners-up. The men also won a league and a regional crown in 2005 and advanced to the regional tournament on numerous occasions. His squads defeated several ranked teams, including two top-ranked programs.

He earned plenty of recognition at Iowa Western, including garnering NSCAA Region Coach of the Year honors in 2006 and 2007.

Prior to his tenure at Iowa Western, Bennett coached several teams at Penn. He began his coaching career in the fall of 1999 as the head of the women's soccer team when the school was still a member of the Iowa Conference in NCAA Division III. He became the men's coach the following season and held both positions through the 2002 seasons.

At Penn, Bennett led the women to a 42-11-4 record, including three conference championships, an NCAA Division III Tournament appearance, and two NAIA Region VII appearances. His 2001 team finished 20-0-1 overall, advanced to the regional semifinals, was ranked 20th by the NSCAA, and broke several NAIA single-season records. The squad outscored its opposition by an incredible 121-2 margin.

Overall, Bennett owns a soccer coaching record of 226-85-23.

He has earned several coaching certificates in soccer throughout his career.

Bennett is a 1997 graduate of Penn with a degree in physical education, coaching, and health education (K-12 endorsement).