Rich Benson was named the head coach of the Centre men's tennis program in September of 2023.
Benson came to Centre with a versatile tennis background, having experience as a player, coach, tour director and owner of a Tennis Court construction company. He served as assistant coach and head coach at Liberty University from 2012-16, and assisted at the University of Louisville in 2010-11, where he helped the team reach a no. 25 national ranking. He also coached aspiring pro players on the ATP circuit, including Jan-Michael Gambill, who went on to be ranked the no. 14 singles player in the world on the ATP Men's Tour.
A 1990 graduate of the University of Kentucky, Benson is one of the most decorated players in the history of the Kentucky program. He was an NCAA All-American in 1987, 1988 and 1989, and his team posted top-20 national finishes in all four of his years, finishing as high as no. 7 in 1988. He competed in seven different NCAA Tournaments in his time at Kentucky, making the national semifinals of the doubles tournament and singles clay court tournament in 1987. He was also a two-time Southeastern Conference champion, winning singles and doubles tournaments in 1988.
Originally from Ogden, Utah, Benson also had a decorated juniors career, winning three Utah state championships and qualifying for the 1984 US Olympic Tennis Trials.
Rich has been married to his wife Paula for 25 years. They have four children, Allison, TJ, Daniel, and Samuel.
