Central Michigan University Athletics
New CMU head wrestling coach Ben Bennett (second from left) stands with University President Dr. Robert O. Davies (left), retired coach Tom Borrelli (second from right) and Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan on Thursday at the Chippewa Champions Center.
Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
CMU Wrestling Officially Passes the Torch to Ben Bennett
4/25/2024 6:32:00β―PM | Wrestling, Our Stories
Interview With Tom BorrelliInterview With Cameron WoodPhoto GalleryWatch Complete Welcome EventBen Bennett Hired as New CMU Wrestling Coach
Bennett: βIβd like to thank you for entrusting me with this position. It means a lot to me.β
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. β It was billed as a welcome, but in reality it was a coronation.
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Ben Bennett was introduced Thursday as Central Michigan's new wrestling coach during a 30-minute ceremony in the Franckowiak Atrium at the Chippewa Champions Center.
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Bennett officially took the reins from legendary coach Tom Borrelli, who spent 33 years at the helm, building the program into the class of the Mid-American Conference and one recognized nationally for its competitiveness and excellence both on and off the mat.
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Bennett was introduced by Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan after remarks from University President Dr. Robert O. Davies.
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Voice of the Chippewas Adam Jaksa served as master of ceremonies for the event, which was attended by dozens of CMU officials, coaches, department personnel, student-athletes, alumni, donors, fans and media.
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Also in attendance were Bennett's parents, Doug and Michelle, and his wife, Erica, a former Chippewa field hockey player.
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"Thank you for supporting me in this, allowing me to be the new head coach here at CMU," Bennett said in his address. "It's really been my dream to get to this position. It's been a long road, I've taken it patient and really just tried to soak in everything that I could soak in over the years at this university and with this program."
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"I'd like to thank you for entrusting me with this position. It means a lot to me."
Β
As a student-athlete from 2010-13, Bennett put together one of the greatest careers in program history. He was a four-time Mid-American Conference champion and is the only four-time All-American in CMU wrestling history. He was inducted last year into the Marcy Weston CMU Athletics Hall of Fame.
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He joined Borrelli's staff immediately upon graduation and served for 11 years as an assistant.
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"All the stories I heard about this place when I was younger, they were true," Bennett said. "This place really is amazing. We have incredible support and to build a successful program it takes that kind of support from everybody, from the administration, the donors, the alumni, and we can't do it without all of you."
Β
Bennett is the fourth current Chippewa head coach to have been a CMU student-athlete. He joins Jake Sabol (baseball), Jenny Swieton (cross country/track & field) and Christine MacDonald (gymnastics) in that exclusive club.
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Bennett paid tribute to Borrelli, who led the Chippewas to a combined 30 MAC regular season and tournament titles and his wrestlers captured 45 All-America honors during his amazing 33 years in charge of the program.
Β
"I've got to thank coach Borrell," he said. "I'm 34 years old, and besides my parents, there's no one I've spent more time with β 16 years with him. It's hard to put into words what he's done for me. I told him that deciding to come to CMU and wrestle for this program is the best decision I've ever made in my life, and I'd never change that. If I could go back, I'd make the same decision every day.
Β
"He's prepared me for the challenges I'm going to face as a head coach, the obstacles I'm going to face. There's going to be a lot of them along the way. That's part of the journey, that's part of becoming successful, and I'm confident with his guidance over the past 11 years that I'm prepared for that.
Β
"He's done probably too much for me. It's been incredible. Him believing in me as a student-athlete here, him believing in me as a young, up-and-coming coach who's trying to learn my way around college athletics, all the ins and outs, it's more than just coaching, it's more than just being in the (wrestling) room every day. I really believe there wasn't a place I could go that would have prepared me more for this opportunity and there's nowhere else I wanted to be than here.
Β
"Thank you coach for everything you've done for me. I don't think I could every repay you."
Β
Bennett is the latest of several Borrelli protégés to become a head coach. The others currently in charge of programs across the country are his son, Jason (American), Scotti Sentes (Campbell), and Luke Smith (CSU Bakersfield). Several others are assistants on various campuses and still others are heading up high school programs.
Β
"To see one of your former student-athletes be able to take over the program, that's a dream," Borrelli said. "I really believe he's going to be able to move it further along than we ever were able to take it when I was the coach here.
Β
"I'll be very much involved in what's going on. Not from a hands-on type of thing, but I'll pay a lot of attention, I can guarantee you that. I really feel like we're in a good spot moving forward."
Β
Cameron Wood, the Chippewas' starter at 197 pounds, was among a dozen or so current wrestlers who attended Thursday's ceremony.
Β
"I definitely think it's what's best for the program," Wood said. "Ben has made a big impact on me as coach Borrelli has. Knowing that somebody who has had that big of an impact on you is still going to be around and continue to help you, not just on the mat, but off the mat as well, it means a lot."
Β
Β
Β
Β
Ben Bennett was introduced Thursday as Central Michigan's new wrestling coach during a 30-minute ceremony in the Franckowiak Atrium at the Chippewa Champions Center.
Β
Bennett officially took the reins from legendary coach Tom Borrelli, who spent 33 years at the helm, building the program into the class of the Mid-American Conference and one recognized nationally for its competitiveness and excellence both on and off the mat.
Β
Bennett was introduced by Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan after remarks from University President Dr. Robert O. Davies.
Β
Voice of the Chippewas Adam Jaksa served as master of ceremonies for the event, which was attended by dozens of CMU officials, coaches, department personnel, student-athletes, alumni, donors, fans and media.
Β
Also in attendance were Bennett's parents, Doug and Michelle, and his wife, Erica, a former Chippewa field hockey player.
Β
"Thank you for supporting me in this, allowing me to be the new head coach here at CMU," Bennett said in his address. "It's really been my dream to get to this position. It's been a long road, I've taken it patient and really just tried to soak in everything that I could soak in over the years at this university and with this program."
Β
"I'd like to thank you for entrusting me with this position. It means a lot to me."
Β
As a student-athlete from 2010-13, Bennett put together one of the greatest careers in program history. He was a four-time Mid-American Conference champion and is the only four-time All-American in CMU wrestling history. He was inducted last year into the Marcy Weston CMU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Β
He joined Borrelli's staff immediately upon graduation and served for 11 years as an assistant.
Β
"All the stories I heard about this place when I was younger, they were true," Bennett said. "This place really is amazing. We have incredible support and to build a successful program it takes that kind of support from everybody, from the administration, the donors, the alumni, and we can't do it without all of you."
Β
Bennett is the fourth current Chippewa head coach to have been a CMU student-athlete. He joins Jake Sabol (baseball), Jenny Swieton (cross country/track & field) and Christine MacDonald (gymnastics) in that exclusive club.
Β
Bennett paid tribute to Borrelli, who led the Chippewas to a combined 30 MAC regular season and tournament titles and his wrestlers captured 45 All-America honors during his amazing 33 years in charge of the program.
Β
"I've got to thank coach Borrell," he said. "I'm 34 years old, and besides my parents, there's no one I've spent more time with β 16 years with him. It's hard to put into words what he's done for me. I told him that deciding to come to CMU and wrestle for this program is the best decision I've ever made in my life, and I'd never change that. If I could go back, I'd make the same decision every day.
Β
"He's prepared me for the challenges I'm going to face as a head coach, the obstacles I'm going to face. There's going to be a lot of them along the way. That's part of the journey, that's part of becoming successful, and I'm confident with his guidance over the past 11 years that I'm prepared for that.
Β
"He's done probably too much for me. It's been incredible. Him believing in me as a student-athlete here, him believing in me as a young, up-and-coming coach who's trying to learn my way around college athletics, all the ins and outs, it's more than just coaching, it's more than just being in the (wrestling) room every day. I really believe there wasn't a place I could go that would have prepared me more for this opportunity and there's nowhere else I wanted to be than here.
Β
"Thank you coach for everything you've done for me. I don't think I could every repay you."
Β
Bennett is the latest of several Borrelli protégés to become a head coach. The others currently in charge of programs across the country are his son, Jason (American), Scotti Sentes (Campbell), and Luke Smith (CSU Bakersfield). Several others are assistants on various campuses and still others are heading up high school programs.
Β
"To see one of your former student-athletes be able to take over the program, that's a dream," Borrelli said. "I really believe he's going to be able to move it further along than we ever were able to take it when I was the coach here.
Β
"I'll be very much involved in what's going on. Not from a hands-on type of thing, but I'll pay a lot of attention, I can guarantee you that. I really feel like we're in a good spot moving forward."
Β
Cameron Wood, the Chippewas' starter at 197 pounds, was among a dozen or so current wrestlers who attended Thursday's ceremony.
Β
"I definitely think it's what's best for the program," Wood said. "Ben has made a big impact on me as coach Borrelli has. Knowing that somebody who has had that big of an impact on you is still going to be around and continue to help you, not just on the mat, but off the mat as well, it means a lot."
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Players Mentioned
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