Cougar teams under Benjamin have continuously ranked among the nation’s best statistically.   In the most recent historical season, the Cougars were top-25 nationally in:  stolen bases (7th), homeruns (11th), RBI (11th), runs (12th), slugging percentage (13th), batting average (15th), extra base hits (18th), hits (22nd), doubles (22nd), and on-base percentage (25th).  The Cougars were also solid in the field behind a stout pitching staff ranking eighth in strikeouts per seven innings (8th), strikeouts (9th), walks surrendered (10th best), ERA (11th), and earned runs (16th).  Behind the pitching staff the diamond recorded a seventh best twelve double plays while fielding a 19th best .955 fielding percentage.

Benjamin has had a total of fifteen players receive first or second team honors, including consecutive Region VI Most Valuable Player award winners. Off the field, Benjamin embraces academics as the Cougars have also improved in that area posting most recently a 3.63 GPA after a 3.44 team GPA in 2015 and a 3.24 team average in 2014.

Finishing second in the KJCCC and Region VI to the eventual NJCAA national champion, Benjamin rebuilt the 2016 version of the Cougars from its 2015 Region VI Champion team to be a more complete team across the field and up-and-down the lineup.   Setting school records in the major run production areas, Benjamin added speed resulting in a record year of stolen bases while elevating the defense and pitching which rewrote the book on strikeouts in a season.  The Cougars also dotted the national statistical grid with many individual and team top twenty rankings.  

Seven players earned 2016 all-conference honors with two landing on All-American teams.  Freshman pitcher Madison Didion, who will continue her career at NCAA Division I Coppin State University, led the selections with multiple post-season awards.  Being named the MVP and freshman of the year in the conference and region, Didion also racked up all-american honors from Fastpitch News, the NFCA, and capping off her Barton career with a 3rd team All-NJCAA honor.   Fellow freshman Brittany Wood also received prestigious national honors being named to both the NFCA’s Midwest Region and 3rd Team All-American squad.

In just his second year, Benjamin led the Cougars to the 2015 Region VI title for the first time in Barton history since 1993.   

Led by NFCA All-American Erica Harper’s school record twenty-six homeruns, the Cougars led the Division I ranks of NJCAA softball in homeruns and in the top ten nationally in multiple offensive categories.  Finishing 36-20 on the 2015 campaign, the Cougars fell just shy of reaching the NJCAA Division I Tournament losing in the District E Championship.

In his inaugural season, Benjamin’s 2013-2014 squad was nationally ranked in four categories: 10th in batting average, 9th in on base percentage, 8th in doubles, and 3rd in slugging percentage. His 2014-2015 team also held high rankings in four categories: 15th in runs batted in, 15th in total bases, 9th in extra base hits, and 6th in homeruns with 73.

Arriving to Barton from NCAA Division I program Southern Utah University, as an assistant coach helped turn a program from 10 wins to 25 wins and earning them a spot in the conference tournament. In his three years at SUU, the Thunderbirds made the conference tournament every year.  As SUU, Benjamin coached a Summit League Conference MVP, an Easton All-American, and thirteen all-conference selections (Summit League and Big Sky Conference).

A former stellar athlete, Benjamin’s playing career began playing second base on the baseball diamond.  After receiving all-conference honors both years at Cerritos College, Benjamin transferred to NCAA Division I University of Utah.  At Utah, Benjamin batted .317 with nine doubles, two triples, three home runs and 55 RBI.  During Benjamin’s senior season he finished in the top ten of the Western Athletic Conference with 15 stolen bases, finishing with 29 career total stolen bases. Benjamin graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in political science in 1994.

An accomplished fast pitch softball player, Benjamin played on elite teams including internationally in New Zealand and Australia.

In addition to Benjamin’s baseball and softball career, his brother, Mike, played 13 years in the major leagues, spending time in the Giants, Phillies, Red Sox and Pirates organizations.