GOODWELL, Okla. – Oklahoma Panhandle State University has hired veteran coach Marc “Benji" Benjamin to head up its softball program, it has been announced by OPSU Interim Director of Athletics Victor Esparza. Benjamin brings more than 10 years of college coaching experience to the Aggies’ helm.
Marc “Benji” Benjamin enters his fourth year as the Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies head coach in the 2022-23 academic year
In the 2022 season, one featuring many outstanding accomplishments, Benji led the Aggies to the best 35-14 record-most wins in school history. Last season was the first season in school history; the softball program received votes in the top 25 NAIA rankings. The Aggie offense was one the most potent in the SAC conference, with an overall batting average of .358. Ten players would win all-conference awards, with four first-team, six-second-team, and newcomer of the year. Kayli Grove also became the second player in school program history to be named an NAIA All-American-making the second team. Coach Benjamin was named Sooner Athletic Conference coach of the year.
The 2022 season was not only highlighted on the field but off the field as well. The Aggie softball team had twelve individuals take home NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete recognition. The 3.5 team GPA was the 6th best in the NFCA academic standings.
Benjamin came to OPSU after most recently serving as an assistant at Pitt Community College (2020). He has also been an assistant at Northwest Kansas Tech (2018), as well as at NCAA Division I schools Campbell University (2017-18) and Southern Utah University (2010-13).
Benjamin also had a four year stint (2013-17) as the head coach at Barton Community College. While at BCC, Benjamin compiled a record of 138-68 (.670), where he was voted co-Coach of the Year in the Jayhawk Conference in 2015-16. In 2015-16, BCC was a school-record 51-8 and ranked ninth in the final NJCAA poll. In 2014-15, his team was the Region IV Tournament Champion.
At Barton, Benjamin produced four All-America award winners, two conference MVP’s and one Freshman of the Year. 19 of his Cougar players earned all-conference accolades. 14 went on to pick up scholarships to four-year institutions. His 2015-16 team had the fourth-best grade point average in the nation at 3.66.
Benjamin played 14 years at the highest level of men’s softball.Benjamin played fastpitch softball at the highest level for ten years with the Larry H. Miller team out of Salt Lake City, Utah, and had two overseas seasons playing one in New Zealand and one in Australia.. He graduated from the University of Utah (1994) with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, where he was also a scholarship baseball player for the NCAA Division I Utes.
Benjamin Year-by-Year Head Coaching Record
Year School Record
2013-2014 Barton Community College 21-24
2014-2015 Barton Community College 36-20- NJCAA Region VI Champions
2015-2016 Barton Community College 51-8-Finished 9th NJCAA rankings
2016-2017 Barton Community College 30-16
2020-2021 Oklahoma Panhandle State 20-25
2021-2022 Oklahoma Panhandle State 35-14-most wins school history
2022-2023 Oklahoma Panhandle State 26-26
