By: Maddie Crews
You played for the University of Georgia as an attacking midfielder and forward. Can you summarize your college experience and playing days?
"My college experience was a bit of a learning curve. I went in as an attacking midfielder, won the starting spot and then in my junior year, like late sophomore, early junior year, I kind of got booted out of that role and they wanted me as a forward. So, my junior year was my toughest year in terms of transitioning to a new role because I was a new forward. I wasn't the starter, so I was just really learning a lot. Then, in the spring of my junior year, got the hang of things is starting to get more playing time. Then my senior year, it all kind of clicked together. I was able to be very effective for my team more than I had been in the past. A lot more goals. A lot more assist and then again, my fifth year, you know, similar even with the new staff, I was able to continue being an asset for my team in that way."
You also earned many accolades at UGA from SEC All-Tournament ('22) and you also currently hold the single season all-time record at UGA for most assists in a season with 11. What does it mean to you to have so much success as a collegiate athlete?
"It means everything. That was just one of my goals since I was a little kid, you know? Being able to achieve that goal and to do it in a way that left a bit of a legacy at UGA, it's an incredible feeling. You know, knowing that players now can look at that and try and beat it like I think it's awesome that they'll have something to strive towards. It was really beneficial for me. I think that's awesome."
Now you came to Kennesaw fresh off your playing days at UGA. How did you end up at Kennesaw State?
"It's kind of just a bit of luck. Around early June, late May, I called my old coach Keidane and was like, 'do you know of anyone that needs a grad assistant?' I decided to step away from playing at the moment, so the next day, Keidane called me back and he was like, 'Benji has a spot at KSU.' I was like, I know KSU. I have played them a couple times. I know the area, obviously like I've lived in Georgia for the past five years. I mean as soon as I heard that I knew it was the perfect opportunity."
You were also an assistant coach at UGA soccer camps from 2019-2022. What drew you to coaching and what has the adjustment been like going from player to coach?
"I just love sharing the passion that I have for soccer with younger players especially. At those camps is where I really discovered that. Helping the head coaches at the camps even if it was just little things like helping with drills or whatever. Hearing the kids and the players like ask me questions about playing and what it's like to be at a higher level and being able to share that and see that they were wanting to go after that, I just really loved that shared passion for the game and being able to teach them something that I've spent my whole life learning. It's just a unique feeling. It's something I still strive towards now even though obviously at KSU they're older women but it's a similar feeling being able to share what I learned at UGA and stuff like that."
You talked about developing a player and helping inspire them as well. How do you approach player development, both individually and as a team?
"For me, especially since I'm so new to the coaching world, I've tried to do it in a way that I would have wanted to learn as a player. My fifth year was when I really started to get sat down by my coaches and be told like, 'this is what we see,' and being shown in film. This is how you need to fix it. This is what you need to continue to do, and that was something that really helped me grow exponentially between my senior year and my fifth year. For me it's looking at film, seeing individual players and what I think they could have done differently, but also showing them things that they did well. The same thing if I apply it to all the forwards or all the attacking players or whatever, looking at what they've done well as a unit and what they need to improve upon."
There has been a huge increase in women's sports throughout the years. Can you share your thoughts on the growth and development of women's soccer in recent years?
"I think it's incredible. When I was a kid, professional women's soccer was just not something that was talked about often. You only heard about the women's national team, but I mean that was just such a small blip in the grand scheme of things. On the men's side, you see so many professional leagues around the world, you see all the opportunities they have with media or whatever it may be. So, seeing that, especially in the last decade, I think is incredible. It just kind of grew out of nowhere. I think people are finally starting to recognize that women can play in a good, entertaining game. We can be just as competitive and have as much drive and passion for the game as the men do. I think it's awesome because like I said earlier, kids looking up and seeing that now is so inspiring for them. Not only do they get to see the collegiate level grow, but they're also seeing the professional levels grow. It just makes it even more like a dream because when I was a kid, playing professional women's soccer just meant like national team because there really wasn't a strong league yet for the women, especially in the US. Now, younger players can see that the US now has a strong league for women like I think that's awesome. They can look up and see that and strive for that."
What is something Kennesaw State fans should know about you?
"I think they should know that even though I've played against these girls, I'm still trying my very best to make them better players, now that I'm on their side. Also, that my favorite shows Game of Thrones. It is objectively the best show out there ever."
