Rick Benben, KC Roos’ soccer coach for 22 seasons, is retiring
Rick Benben, Kansas City’s men’s soccer coach for 22 seasons, is retiring the school announced on Monday.
A member of the Roos Hall of Fame, Benben took three UMKC teams to the NCAA Tournament, won four regular-season conference championships and three league tournament titles.
“The last 22 seasons have been some of the most enjoyable of my career,” said Benben, whose teams went 148-212-42.
Some 103 players earned all-conference honors under Benben, who was chosen conference coach of the year three times.
Before coaching at Kansas City, Benben was head coach of the Kansas City Comets, a Major Indoor Soccer League team, from 1984-87, and was the organization’s assistant coach and director of player personnel before then.
Benben will serve as a special assistant to athletic director Brandon Martin.
“Coach Benben is the true epitome of a selfless and humble leader, who always sacrifices for his players,” Martin said.