UMKC Hall of Fame Spotlight: Rick Benben
1/18/2012 1:00:00 PM | General, Athletics
The toughest question for UMKC men's soccer coach Rick Benben to answer is one about him receiving an honor.
Benben is a coach who always puts his players ahead of himself.
"One thing Rick always preaches to me is it is always about the players. It is not just rhetoric," said UMKC assistant coach Fred Schlichting. "He believes it. He understands it. He has great confidence in his own abilities. There is no reason for him to go around beating his chest. He will let the program do it for him."
The UMKC men's soccer has been enormously successful under Benben's guidance. The Kangaroos qualified for the conference tournament in 12 of Benben's 14 years at UMKC.
In 2001, the men's soccer team became the first program at UMKC to post a NCAA Division I Tournament victory. Three times Benben's teams have won conference titles and four times he has been selected conference coach of the year.
Benben's induction into the UMKC Athletic Hall of Fame was inevitable. Benben is part of the 2011-12 class and will be honored Jan. 20 at the Downtown Marriott.
"I think almost any answer I come up with isn't adequate," Benben said. "I think it is really humbling. For people to recognize you in this way, I think the best word I can come up with is humbling."
"It is just a big honor when you think of all the people who have contributed to the program over the years and then to be selected this way is really incredible."
Benben is going in the same year that his 2001 team will be inducted. The 2001 team was special. Those players proved they could compete with the best in the country.
During an unseasonably warm Thanksgiving weekend, UMKC traveled to St. Louis and took on Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the first round at St. Louis University. The Kangaroos won 2-1 and then faced St. Louis University on a Sunday afternoon.
St. Louis was the heavy favorite, but the Kangaroos nearly pulled off an upset, before falling 2-1 in the second round.
"We had some great chances to go up 3-1," Benben recalls. "We were a really good team. I don't want to go overboard about them being great kids. To be fair, 99.9 percent of the people who coach really like their kids.
"I certainly had those feelings about those guys. I was glad I had the opportunity to work with them. It was good."
"That team could play with any team in the country. The game we lost to St. Louis University was certainly unlucky."
The thing that Benben is proud of is being consistently competitive with some of the top soccer programs in the country.
"It is how you play, not just the results you get," Benben said.
The way Benben treats his players, his staff and everybody around him has led to success on the field.
"Clearly, he has been a fantastic mentor for me," Schlichting said. "He's a great teacher, first and foremost. He takes the time to know all the players and all his staff so he can give each individual the type of attention he needs to be successful. He really takes the time and asks the right questions. He is a great listener. His teaching comes across in a clear manner."
"When you add that to the whole group it makes it such a cohesive group and allows players to fit into their most comfortable position. It's a credit to Rick that he takes the time to do all that."
"He really cares. He really creates a family atmosphere. It's not just the words. He really cares what goes on with our team. He cares about our players, the university. It is a passion which is unwavering. He goes about it with friendship and kindness. He does not have to be this hard guy even though he is one of the most competitive people you will meet."
And that best describes Rick Benben. While he may have few words about himself in regards to making the Hall of Fame, he definitely loves the fact the UMKC has one honoring past accomplishments.
"To take the time to select some individuals and teams I think that really gives you an opportunity to build a history with your program," Benben said. "As time goes on it will become more important."
Note: David Boyce covered UMKC men's soccer team in the 2001 NCAA Tournament in St. Louis for the Kansas City Star.
