EUGENE, Ore. – The Northwest Christian University athletic department announced on Wednesday that Director of Soccer Brett Bentley will see his position expanded for the 2011 season. Bentley will now serve as the head coach for both the men’s and women’s soccer programs at NCU.
Athletic Director Corey Anderson said, “Over this past year, we have seen a great improvement in our men’s soccer program’s level of competitiveness and character. With the recent opening in our women’s soccer post, we thought that this was the perfect time to expand Coach Bentley’s role as the Director of Soccer. While he was hired into this title a year ago, with this promotion he will now directly oversee both the men’s and the women’s soccer programs in all levels of coaching, recruiting, training and organization. We have great faith in Coach Bentley, along with his current coaching staff, in the positive direction that they are leading the NCU soccer programs.
Bentley began his first season as the head coach for the men’s soccer program in 2010 and quickly turned around a soccer program that had won just nine games combined in four previous seasons. During his first year at the helm, the Beacons went 7-10-1, setting program records for wins, conference wins, goals, assists, points, and goals against average.
Bentley said, “I am excited to have the opportunity to work with the girls because of the talent, skill and character that I've seen from them. As a coach you always want to work with players who are hard working and determined to be successful. Having watched them, I can attest that this is the case with our returners.”
Formerly an assistant coach with the Corban University men’s and women’s programs, Bentley currently serves as the Training Director and a head coach with the Keizer Soccer Club. Coach Bentley has been coaching competitive soccer for the past ten years, including a stint as the women’s assistant coach at Grand Canyon University.
As a player, Bentley played for the Region IV Olympic Development Team, the University of California-Riverside, and Yavapai Junior College before finishing his collegiate career at Corban University. He spent three seasons playing for the Cascade Surge of the Premier Developmental League in the USL, one season in which he doubled as a player and coach.
Along with Bentley’s promotion, two other title changes have occurred in the soccer programs. Former men’s assistant coach Micah Pruss, who joined the coaching staff with Bentley in 2010, has been elevated to an Associate Head Coach role for the men’s program. Likewise, Theo Porter, a two-year assistant with the women’s program, has been named the Associate Head Coach for the women, beginning in 2011.
The women’s soccer team finished the 2010 season at 5-11-1, coming just one win short of a program record. The Beacons also tied a school-record for conference wins and had their highest CCC finish in school history (8th). Bentley will take over coaching duties from Katie Casebeer, who led the team in 2010.
“The biggest challenge for us will be implementing a new style of play and having the team grasp the concepts quickly,” said Bentley. A good team always plays as one but unfortunately this does not come overnight. With the quality of our returning players I feel confident that developing our style will come quickly. I'm convinced that with the players and coaches we have in place our success will be a byproduct of our hard work.”