Completed Event: Swimming & Diving versus Richmond on January 25, 2025 , Win , 174, to, 124
S-D
Final
James Madison
174
vs Richmond
124
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Swimming & Diving
Benson, Becky
Becky Benson
- Title:
- Diving Head Coach
- Email:
- bensonrl@jmu.edu
- Phone:
- 540-568-6574
- Physical Address:
- Godwin 124C (261 Bluestone Dr.) / MSC 2301
Becky Benson joined the JMU women's swimming and diving program as head diving coach in August of 2007 and in that time has built one of the most dominant programs at JMU.
Coaching HighlightsÂ
 2 NCAA National Championship Qualifier
19 NCAA Zone A Qualifiers
 10 CAA Conference Champions
 5 CAA Conference Divers of the Year
 4 CAA Conference Rookies of the Year
 6 CAA Conference Coach of the Year
In the 2016 season, head diving Coach Becky Benson led James Madison to its sixth straight top-two finish at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships highlted by a first place finish on the 1 -meter and a second place finish on the 3-meter. She also led JMU to the 2016 NCAA Diving Championships on both the 1-meter and 3-meter for only the second time in the program's history.Â
She coached NCAA Zone A Qualifiers for the ninth straight year, inlcuding the NCAA Zone A 1-meter champion for the first time in JMU history.Â
"With a combination of hard work and fun, JMU Diving has established itself as the best program in the CAA and one of the top programs in the country," Benson said. "We compete a tough schedule every year because we have a quality program with good divers who deserve to test their talents against the best."
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In eight seasons at JMU, Benson has taken the Dukes' diving program to unprecedented heights. She's won sixth straight CAA Diving Coach of the Year awards from 2010-2015 and has sent divers to the NCAA Zone A Qualifying meet in each of her eight seasons. Under her direction, Madison divers have posted the top eight scores in program history in the one-meter dive and eight of the top nine scores all-time in the three-meter event.
In 2014-2015, Benson lead the program to another successful season with three top four finishes at the CAA Championships and two top 11 finishes at NCAA Zone A Championships. Redshirt sophomore Taryn McLaughlin was named CAA Diver of year and Most Outstanding Diver of the CAA Championships after winning both the one-meter and three-meter events. McLaughlin, Lehman and Alexander competed in the NCAA Zone A Championships finishing the meet with top 11 Â finishes by McLaughlin and Lehman joined by a 36th finish by Alexander. Â Benson was named CAA Women's Diving Coach of the Year for the sixth conscecutive season. Â
In 2013-14, Benson's program continued to soar. Redshirt freshman Taryn McLaughlin led the way as she won both CAA Diver and Rookie Diver of the Year accolades after winning both the one-meter and three-meter diving events at the conference championship meet. The rookie posted the second-highest score in program history on both boards, including a CAA Championship meet record 373.85 in the three-meter event. McLaughlin was joined by teammates Alex Savage, Olivia Lehman and Carly Alexander at the NCAA Zone A meet.
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In 2012, JMU's diving team swept the CAA's major awards with Benson claiming her fourth straight CAA Diving Coach of the Year accolade. She coached senior Nicole Jotso to the Diver of the Year honor and helped freshman Alex Savage earn CAA Rookie Diver of the Year honors. The Dukes swept both diving events on their way to winning the program's sixth Colonial Athletic Association Championship. Madison placed four of the top seven finishers in the three-meter event with junior Kim Helfrich taking the top medalist spot. On the one-meter board, Jotso claimed first with JMU placing five of the top seven finishers overall.
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In 2011, Benson's divers took the program a step further. Nicole Jotso became the first JMU diver since Amanda Kuehl in 1995-95 to win the three-meter at the CAA Championships. The Dukes placed four divers in the top six in that event while taking four of the top eight spots in the one-meter board. At the NCAA Zone Qualifying meet, Kimberly Helfrich finished in the top-five in both events to become the first member of the JMU swimming and diving team to qualify for the NCAA Championships. She finished 24th and 28th in the one-meter and three-meter boards, respectively, at the NCAA Championships.
The success reached new levels in 2009-2010 for Benson as she was honored as the CAA Diving Coach of the Year. Junior Jessie Everett and sophomore Nicole Jotso each earned a pair of All-CAA honors with second- and third-place finishes, respectively, in both diving events at the CAA championships. Everett broke both JMU school records, becoming the first JMU diver ever to break 300.00 in six dives on the one-meter board (323.60) along with a score of 325.50 on the three-meter board. Benson placed all four of her divers (Everett, Jotso, freshman Kimberly Helfrich, and sophomore Chelsea Savage) in the top six at the CAA Championships. All four qualified for the NCAA Zone A Qualifying meet. All four advanced to the finals of the one-meter competition while two reached the finals of the three-meter board. Helfrich was also later honored as the CAA Rookie Diver of the Year.
In 2008-09, her squad of two freshmen and one sophomore were consistent point scorers in dual meets all season for the Dukes. Freshman Nicole Jotso broke both school records with a 288.00 in the one-meter board and the first ever six-dive score over 300.00 at JMU with a 312.38 in the three-meter. Jessica Everett posted the second-best dive in school history with a 280.95 in the one-meter and third with a 293.75 in the three-meter. Each was honored during the season as CAA Diver of the Week and went on to qualify for the NCAA Zone A meet.
In her first season in 2007-08, Benson coached senior Jamie Coyle to significant improvement. With previous personal record marks under 200 in both events, Coyle went on to break the school record in the one-meter with a 268.20 and ranks eighth in JMU history with a 253.50 in the three-meter. Coyle went on to qualify for the NCAA Zone A meet for the first time.
Benson came to JMU from North Carolina State University, where she served as the interim head diving coach in 2006-07.  While with the Wofpack, she had six out of seven divers qualify for the NCAA Zone B Qualifying meet.  One male placed third on the one-meter at the ACC Championships and was named All-ACC and one female placed third on the platform event.
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Benson was hired by the Wolfpack after two years as head coach at Broughton High School in Raleigh.  Other coaching stops included North Hills Club in Raleigh, North Carolina Aquatics Club in Chapel Hill, Jordan High School in Durham, Alabama Diving Club, Los Angeles Diving Team in California, and UCLA.
Benson was a diver at the University of South Carolina from 1982-1985.  In her freshman season with the Gamecocks, she was the National Independent Conference three-meter champion.  Benson was named the Metro Conference Diver of the Year in 1984 and was an NCAA semifinalist. Â
After USC, Benson went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Sports/Fitness Management from the University of Alabama in 1988.  She earned a master’s degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management from North Carolina State in 1999.
Coaching HighlightsÂ
 2 NCAA National Championship Qualifier
19 NCAA Zone A Qualifiers
 10 CAA Conference Champions
 5 CAA Conference Divers of the Year
 4 CAA Conference Rookies of the Year
 6 CAA Conference Coach of the Year
In the 2016 season, head diving Coach Becky Benson led James Madison to its sixth straight top-two finish at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships highlted by a first place finish on the 1 -meter and a second place finish on the 3-meter. She also led JMU to the 2016 NCAA Diving Championships on both the 1-meter and 3-meter for only the second time in the program's history.Â
She coached NCAA Zone A Qualifiers for the ninth straight year, inlcuding the NCAA Zone A 1-meter champion for the first time in JMU history.Â
"With a combination of hard work and fun, JMU Diving has established itself as the best program in the CAA and one of the top programs in the country," Benson said. "We compete a tough schedule every year because we have a quality program with good divers who deserve to test their talents against the best."
Â
In eight seasons at JMU, Benson has taken the Dukes' diving program to unprecedented heights. She's won sixth straight CAA Diving Coach of the Year awards from 2010-2015 and has sent divers to the NCAA Zone A Qualifying meet in each of her eight seasons. Under her direction, Madison divers have posted the top eight scores in program history in the one-meter dive and eight of the top nine scores all-time in the three-meter event.
In 2014-2015, Benson lead the program to another successful season with three top four finishes at the CAA Championships and two top 11 finishes at NCAA Zone A Championships. Redshirt sophomore Taryn McLaughlin was named CAA Diver of year and Most Outstanding Diver of the CAA Championships after winning both the one-meter and three-meter events. McLaughlin, Lehman and Alexander competed in the NCAA Zone A Championships finishing the meet with top 11 Â finishes by McLaughlin and Lehman joined by a 36th finish by Alexander. Â Benson was named CAA Women's Diving Coach of the Year for the sixth conscecutive season. Â
In 2013-14, Benson's program continued to soar. Redshirt freshman Taryn McLaughlin led the way as she won both CAA Diver and Rookie Diver of the Year accolades after winning both the one-meter and three-meter diving events at the conference championship meet. The rookie posted the second-highest score in program history on both boards, including a CAA Championship meet record 373.85 in the three-meter event. McLaughlin was joined by teammates Alex Savage, Olivia Lehman and Carly Alexander at the NCAA Zone A meet.
Â
In 2012, JMU's diving team swept the CAA's major awards with Benson claiming her fourth straight CAA Diving Coach of the Year accolade. She coached senior Nicole Jotso to the Diver of the Year honor and helped freshman Alex Savage earn CAA Rookie Diver of the Year honors. The Dukes swept both diving events on their way to winning the program's sixth Colonial Athletic Association Championship. Madison placed four of the top seven finishers in the three-meter event with junior Kim Helfrich taking the top medalist spot. On the one-meter board, Jotso claimed first with JMU placing five of the top seven finishers overall.
Â
In 2011, Benson's divers took the program a step further. Nicole Jotso became the first JMU diver since Amanda Kuehl in 1995-95 to win the three-meter at the CAA Championships. The Dukes placed four divers in the top six in that event while taking four of the top eight spots in the one-meter board. At the NCAA Zone Qualifying meet, Kimberly Helfrich finished in the top-five in both events to become the first member of the JMU swimming and diving team to qualify for the NCAA Championships. She finished 24th and 28th in the one-meter and three-meter boards, respectively, at the NCAA Championships.
The success reached new levels in 2009-2010 for Benson as she was honored as the CAA Diving Coach of the Year. Junior Jessie Everett and sophomore Nicole Jotso each earned a pair of All-CAA honors with second- and third-place finishes, respectively, in both diving events at the CAA championships. Everett broke both JMU school records, becoming the first JMU diver ever to break 300.00 in six dives on the one-meter board (323.60) along with a score of 325.50 on the three-meter board. Benson placed all four of her divers (Everett, Jotso, freshman Kimberly Helfrich, and sophomore Chelsea Savage) in the top six at the CAA Championships. All four qualified for the NCAA Zone A Qualifying meet. All four advanced to the finals of the one-meter competition while two reached the finals of the three-meter board. Helfrich was also later honored as the CAA Rookie Diver of the Year.
In 2008-09, her squad of two freshmen and one sophomore were consistent point scorers in dual meets all season for the Dukes. Freshman Nicole Jotso broke both school records with a 288.00 in the one-meter board and the first ever six-dive score over 300.00 at JMU with a 312.38 in the three-meter. Jessica Everett posted the second-best dive in school history with a 280.95 in the one-meter and third with a 293.75 in the three-meter. Each was honored during the season as CAA Diver of the Week and went on to qualify for the NCAA Zone A meet.
In her first season in 2007-08, Benson coached senior Jamie Coyle to significant improvement. With previous personal record marks under 200 in both events, Coyle went on to break the school record in the one-meter with a 268.20 and ranks eighth in JMU history with a 253.50 in the three-meter. Coyle went on to qualify for the NCAA Zone A meet for the first time.
Benson came to JMU from North Carolina State University, where she served as the interim head diving coach in 2006-07.  While with the Wofpack, she had six out of seven divers qualify for the NCAA Zone B Qualifying meet.  One male placed third on the one-meter at the ACC Championships and was named All-ACC and one female placed third on the platform event.
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Benson was hired by the Wolfpack after two years as head coach at Broughton High School in Raleigh.  Other coaching stops included North Hills Club in Raleigh, North Carolina Aquatics Club in Chapel Hill, Jordan High School in Durham, Alabama Diving Club, Los Angeles Diving Team in California, and UCLA.
Benson was a diver at the University of South Carolina from 1982-1985.  In her freshman season with the Gamecocks, she was the National Independent Conference three-meter champion.  Benson was named the Metro Conference Diver of the Year in 1984 and was an NCAA semifinalist. Â
After USC, Benson went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Sports/Fitness Management from the University of Alabama in 1988.  She earned a master’s degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management from North Carolina State in 1999.
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