Welcome Coach Benware

We are extremely pleased to introduce Coach Brenton Benware as our new Director of Soccer Operations!  Coach Benware will direct both boys’ and girls’ programs as well as lead ACA soccer efforts at all levels.  He will also serve the ACA community as a full-time physical education teacher.  

Coach Benware was the head coach at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas the past three years.  He previously served as the head coach at Montreat College and College of the Cumberland’s in Kentucky before his time at JBU.

Over the past three seasons, Coach Benware’s teams put up a 34-21-4 (.610) record, including a watershed 2019 season where JBU captured the Sooner Athletic regular season and tournament titles and finished 17-4-1, tying a single-season program win total.  He led JBU to its sixth appearance in the NAIA National Championships. His team went on to advance all the way to the national semifinals, where it fell to defending and eventual repeat national champion.  Since taking the position, a pair of Golden Eagles have gone on to sign professional contracts. 

While coaching the Cavaliers at Montreat College, Coach Benware had 14 All-Appalachian Athletic selections in addition to a two-time AAC Player of the Year, two AAC Freshmen of the Year and an NAIA All-America honorable mention.

Coach Benware and his wife Kelly have three children.  They plan to move to Swannanoa later in June.  Stay tuned as we plan a “meet the coach” event soon!