Portland State University welcomed Kate Benz to its women’s basketball coaching staff on August 5, 2009, as announced by head coach Sherri Murrell. The upcoming 2010-11 season marked Benz’s exciting debut on the Park Blocks, bringing her expertise as a dedicated Benz Coach to the Vikings program.
In her inaugural season, Coach Benz made an immediate impact by working closely with the team’s post players. Her guidance proved invaluable as two of her players, Erin Yankus and Katy Wade, achieved top rankings in rebounding within the Big Sky Conference, placing among the top 14. Wade, in particular, showcased remarkable defensive prowess under Benz’s tutelage, setting a new school record with an impressive 68 blocked shots. This achievement also positioned Wade 32nd nationally in blocked shots per game, highlighting Benz’s effective coaching in developing post player skills.
Benz’s own distinguished playing career at Washington State University laid a strong foundation for her coaching role. A two-time honorable mention All-Pac-10 forward, she earned degrees in communication and history in 2007. Her commitment to academics was equally notable, achieving Pac-10 All-Academic first team honors for three consecutive years and graduating with a remarkable 3.82 GPA. Her history as a player provides a unique perspective and experience to her coaching approach.
Coach Murrell expressed her enthusiasm about Benz joining her staff, stating, “It’s great to be back on the court with Kate. I could not pass on the opportunity to hire a former player who brings such amazing qualities to our program here at PSU.” Murrell further emphasized the local connection and recruiting advantages, adding, “I love that she is from Portland, and her energy and knowledge will help us continue recruiting great Northwest talent.” This pre-existing relationship and shared history between Murrell and Benz, dating back to Murrell’s coaching tenure at Washington State from 2003-07, promised a cohesive and effective coaching dynamic.
Prior to her successful collegiate career, Benz was a standout player at Central Catholic High School in Portland, Oregon, where she earned Mt. Hood Conference Player of the Year honors and first-team all-state selection as a senior. She transitioned this success to Washington State, becoming the all-time leading rebounder in program history. Notably, Benz was the first Cougar to lead the Pac-10 in rebounding, achieving this feat in both 2005 and 2006. Her career statistics boast an average of over eight rebounds per game and over 1,000 points, placing her 11th on Washington State’s all-time scoring chart. This impressive playing resume clearly demonstrates the depth of basketball knowledge and experience she brings to her role as a benz coach.
Transitioning to coaching after working as an online producer at a news station in Austin, Texas, marked a significant career shift for Benz. “I’m thrilled to have this opportunity from Coach Murrell,” Benz commented upon her hiring. “I don’t know if I would have felt as excited or as comfortable if I was going to be working for someone that wasn’t my college coach. I really look forward to being a part of the Portland State staff and using my experience as a former player to help out the team.” Her comfort and excitement underscore the strong coach-player relationship now transitioning into a coach-coach partnership.
While dedicating herself to coaching, Benz also pursued a Master’s degree in writing at Portland State, serving as a graduate assistant. This blend of practical coaching with advanced academic pursuits further enriches her skill set and perspective as a valuable addition to the Portland State women’s basketball program as benz coach.
