641-673-2116
bennetta@wmpenn.edu

Ammon Bennett is in his first season as head cross country coach.

Bennett is in his second stint as the head man of the cross country programs, also leading the teams from 1999-2001 and then again in 2003.  He also coached the track and field teams during those campaigns.

Bennett is best known for being the most successful women's soccer coach in school history.

He was hired as the women's skipper in the fall of 1999 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.

During his tenure, Bennett led the women to a 57-14-6 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.

He then moved on to Iowa Western CC where he 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.

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

Overall, Bennett owns a soccer coaching record of 226-85-23.  He has earned several coaching certificates in soccer throughout his career.

Bennett has coached at the prep level as well, heading the cross country team at Bonneville HS (Utah) in 1991-1992 and assisting the track program in 1992-1993.  He 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 also assists Penn's men's and women's bowling teams.  He adds valuable experience, spending a year on the Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) bowling team during the 1993-1994 season. As the team's #1 bowler, he owned a 198 average in collegiate competition and a 200 average in city league competition. He has bowled two 300 games in his career.

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