Noticed on CU's athletic website that Jenni Benningfield is no longer listed as an assistant coach. Does anyone know the story here?
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Women's Assistant Coach?
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I couldn't find any article about her leaving from either cubuffs, buffzone, or Google searches.
(This got me curious- so I did a a quick inventory of Olympic Sport coaches, and lead lacrosse assistant coach Hannah Nielsen doesn't show in that sport's coaches page for ANY year. Will be interesting to see if that actually means she and/ or Ms. Benningfield are actually no longer at CU, or if it's just cubuffs webpage issue(s).)
(This got me curious- so I did a a quick inventory of Olympic Sport coaches, and lead lacrosse assistant coach Hannah Nielsen doesn't show in that sport's coaches page for ANY year. Will be interesting to see if that actually means she and/ or Ms. Benningfield are actually no longer at CU, or if it's just cubuffs webpage issue(s).)
BeBe
Club Member
I did a Google search on Benningfield and found that, on LinkedIn, she has July 2014 - June 2015 as the dates for her assistant coach at CU position. I would think if she were still there is would say something like July 2014 - present rather than have the June 2015 end date. But who knows. Maybe that's how they do it on LinkedIn.
EdB60
Well-Known Member
Well, I was wondering when someone else would notice this, so I'm glad I waited. I saw it last week and tried to search for a possible destination that would make sense but no joy. Kind of sad because I thought that the 'bigs' really showed improvement last year under her coaching. But the coaching carousel is always turning in WBB, so nothing earth shattering here.
Since mystery always seems to be the case with these changes, here is a little bit of speculation for you. Grand Canyon U. is advertising for an assistant coach but the coaches roster shows no vacancy. The frontcourt coach is a rather prestigious former Buff who was on staff with Raegan Scott Pebley at Utah State and Fresno State. Could this be a homecoming?? Oh yeh, forgot to mention that she is a Colorado girl. hehe.
Since mystery always seems to be the case with these changes, here is a little bit of speculation for you. Grand Canyon U. is advertising for an assistant coach but the coaches roster shows no vacancy. The frontcourt coach is a rather prestigious former Buff who was on staff with Raegan Scott Pebley at Utah State and Fresno State. Could this be a homecoming?? Oh yeh, forgot to mention that she is a Colorado girl. hehe.
BeBe
Club Member
Erin Scholz WAS pretty darn good when she was playing for CU in the 90's. But I don't know much about her coaching. The fact that she did not stay with Pebleyin the move to TCU makes me wonder. As does the move from Fresno to GCU ... seems like a move in the wrong direction. But there can always be other circumstances contributing to these decisions.
EdB60
Well-Known Member
The reason she did not got to TCU with RSP was because she had just accepted a HC job at Fresno Pacific the year before, so no surprise there. She had a decent record as a HC so not sure why she left to go to GCU but that's all just speculation that we will never know anyway.
It is really all speculation since all HCs will go on and on about going thru the hiring process and such but, to me, if a HC doesn't have a plan A, B and C before the so called process even starts, then that HC isn't really smart enough for this level. If it were me, I would already be on the phone before the departing coach hit the parking lot..lol.
Anyway, for us WBB fans, this is more fun than checking up on how the Little Dribblers are doing for the next week or so.
It is really all speculation since all HCs will go on and on about going thru the hiring process and such but, to me, if a HC doesn't have a plan A, B and C before the so called process even starts, then that HC isn't really smart enough for this level. If it were me, I would already be on the phone before the departing coach hit the parking lot..lol.
Anyway, for us WBB fans, this is more fun than checking up on how the Little Dribblers are doing for the next week or so.
Not much new info, but here's an article confirming CU's looking for a new coach- http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-colle...etball-looking-new-assistant-coach?source=rss .
Overall, interests me how much coaching turnover there seems to be in all sports (especially the low or no revenue ones where I assume pay isn't that high?). As the article says, "This is the fourth time in Lappe's five-plus years as CU's coach that she has had to replace a member of her coaching staff in the offseason. "
In the sport I follow most closely, I believe this may be the 1st year since Coach Kritza came to CU as volleyball coach (believe she's going on year 7 or so?) that it looks like, at least so far, the 2 assistant coaches are going to be the same for two years straight (although there is a new "Director of Operations".)
Overall, interests me how much coaching turnover there seems to be in all sports (especially the low or no revenue ones where I assume pay isn't that high?). As the article says, "This is the fourth time in Lappe's five-plus years as CU's coach that she has had to replace a member of her coaching staff in the offseason. "
In the sport I follow most closely, I believe this may be the 1st year since Coach Kritza came to CU as volleyball coach (believe she's going on year 7 or so?) that it looks like, at least so far, the 2 assistant coaches are going to be the same for two years straight (although there is a new "Director of Operations".)
MarkW
Well-Known Member
Good question by Aztec about how much turnover is normal in WBB. It seems that it might depend on a couple of factors. One is the ambitions of the assistant, that is does she/he have the desire to be a head coach at some point? If that is the case decision to stay or go may depend on perceptions about what needs to happen to get there.
Regardless, Lappe needs to find an assistant who can both recruit and teach. IMO, she's on the hot seat this season. There have been two consecutive seasons where the team has gone backwards since the NCAA tourney season during Chucky's senior season. Whoever coaches the posts needs to work with them on becoming efficient scorers in the low post.
Regardless, Lappe needs to find an assistant who can both recruit and teach. IMO, she's on the hot seat this season. There have been two consecutive seasons where the team has gone backwards since the NCAA tourney season during Chucky's senior season. Whoever coaches the posts needs to work with them on becoming efficient scorers in the low post.
BeBe
Club Member
Definitely agree with this. It's unfortunate that this opening occurred this late in the off-season. But the post position is, if the incoming freshman class is as advertised, THE glaring weak spot on this team. The players that are here need to develop their games and recruiting has to pick up in this area.
Definitely need someone who can coach the bigs. I thought Jenni was doing a good job at it.
I know Jennie Baranczyk left CU to be the head coach at Drake. She attended high school in Des Moines and this was her homecoming. She was almost due to give birth when she arrived at Drake and has had another child since her return home. She talked about wanting to be around family once she had her own family.
I think it was a blow to Lappe when Jonas Chatterton made the lateral move last summer and that is when Benningfield was promoted.
I know Jennie Baranczyk left CU to be the head coach at Drake. She attended high school in Des Moines and this was her homecoming. She was almost due to give birth when she arrived at Drake and has had another child since her return home. She talked about wanting to be around family once she had her own family.
I think it was a blow to Lappe when Jonas Chatterton made the lateral move last summer and that is when Benningfield was promoted.
Women are the same as the men: NO leadership on the squad.
The kids are all "too nice" to step up and always seem to defer to upperclass kids who aren't truly leaders (ala Ski for the men). I believe Josh would have stepped up, but his back caused him to defer.
Time to quit the "role model" archetype and develop some real leaders in both programs!
Lappe's frosh class seems to have a couple of true leaders. We'll see how they develop.
The kids are all "too nice" to step up and always seem to defer to upperclass kids who aren't truly leaders (ala Ski for the men). I believe Josh would have stepped up, but his back caused him to defer.
Time to quit the "role model" archetype and develop some real leaders in both programs!
Lappe's frosh class seems to have a couple of true leaders. We'll see how they develop.
BeBe
Club Member
When I talked with Linda briefly at the spring volleyball scrimmage, she was 100% in agreement with what you're saying here. Except she was calling it "mojo" rather than "leadership". She said that she hadn't seen that mojo in a player since Chucky graduated but that she was seeing it's potential in the incoming freshman class. My bets would be on Kennedy Leonard, based on her various tweets since she signed on last fall.
Chucky did have true leadership and I haven't seen it since either. Hope Kennedy Leonard has it.
Lexy Kresl put on Instagram last night that she was officially announcing that she is playing in Sweden this coming season.
Mojo is a good word.
Leadership means a lot of things and not all of them were missing. What has been missing is that "**** of the walk" attitude that gets the whole team going with the "they can't guard us/ score on us/ beat us" , "we won't be denied" & "some how, some way, we are gonna win this ****ing game" competitive cockiness.
Both programs have been missing that.
Everyone wants to win. Everyone tries to win. Not everyone expects to win and needs to win.
MarkW
Well-Known Member
No doubt that there hasn't been good leadership on the court for a number of seasons. The player I believe most likely to provide it will be Kennedy Leonard. She really has something in addition to her basketball skills that will make her a leader. Now, what we don't know is how well she'll be received by the experienced players. But if she is, she could be a leader and a four year starter.
In addition to Leonard, Jamee Swan needs to be vocal and consistent on the course. She is so talented, but has to bring in all the time to really play to her potential and be a massive difference maker for the Buffs.
BTW, Dom Collier for the men needs to be the leader - he needs to be more vocal on the floor with an assist from Josh Scott.