Northwest Notes Dec. 19, 2012

Former volleyball coach Benson returns to EWU

Wade Benson will return to Eastern Washington to serve as volleyball coach for the Eagles, athletic director Bill Chaves announced.

Benson, a graduate of Eastern Washington, replaces interim coach Lisa Westlake, who stepped in after former coach Miles Kydd resigned in August.

Benson was coach at Eastern from 2000-06, compiling a record of 154-55 (.737), the best winning percentage of any coach in school history. His Big Sky record during that time was 78-24 (.765) and ranks among the top four in conference history, leading the Eagles to six consecutive 20-win seasons, three Big Sky regular season championships and one tournament title in 2001.

In 2002, Benson directed the Eagles to a 29-2 record, which remains the best single season record of any Big Sky team.

Prior to coaching at Eastern and Auburn, Benson was the coach at Western Oregon for one year, where he put together a 42-7 record in 1995, winning the Cascade Collegiate Conference regular season and tournament titles and finishing third at the NAIA Championship.