Natalie Benson - Head Coach - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Natalie Benson

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
Phone:
559-278-4022

THE BENSON FILE

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Hometown: La Habra, Calif.
High School: Rosary High School
Family
- Husband: Eric
- Daughters: Elise and Claire

EDUCATION
UCLA
2006
Bachelors in History

Marist College
2017
Masters in Public Administration

COACHING HISTORY
Overall Collegiate Head Coach Record: 156-120
Record at Fresno State: 100-71

Fresno State
Head Coach
2016-Present

Marist College
Head Coach
2013-2016

UCLA
Undergraduate Assistant
2006

Huntington Beach Water Polo
2011: Junior Olympics - Gold
2011: Doc Hunkler Distinguished Coach Award
2012: Junior Olympics - Silver
2013: Junior Olympics - Silver
2013: UANA Pan-Am Youth Championships (17U) - Gold

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
UCLA (2001-05)
3-Time National Champion (2001, 2003, 2005)
2005: Cutino Award - National Player of the Year

Olympics
2004: Athens - Bronze
2008: Beijing - Silver

World Championships
2003: Barcelona - Gold
2005: Montreal - Silver
2007: Melbourne - Gold

Last Updated: July 23, 2024

Natalie Benson enters her eighth year as head coach of the Fresno State water polo program in 2025, being hired as the program's coach for its inaugural season. She was hired on June 16, 2016.

In her seven years at the helm, Benson has led the Bulldogs to a 100-71 overall record. Since its first season in 2018, Fresno State has won four Golden Coast Conference championship titles in four-straight years (2021-24).

2024 (HEAD COACH - SEVENTH SEASON)
OVERALL RECORD: 21-8
GCC RECORD: 6-1
Benson earned the title of Golden Coast Conference Coach of the Year for the fourth-consecutive season. In 2024, the Bulldogs won their fourth straight GCC tournament title, while taking second in the regular season. The GCC Championship Game victory was a big one as Benson earned her 100th win as Fresno State head coach.

The 2024 season was a big year of firsts for the program as the Bulldogs opened the season by winning six in-a-row, including a win over then-No. 1 Stanford. It was the first time in program history that the ‘Dogs took down a top-ranked opponent and the first time they defeated Stanford. Two weeks later, the Bulldogs would again defeat the nation's No. 1 team, this time in USC. The win on Feb. 3 was the first time the Bulldogs defeated USC in program history. Before defeating USC at the Triton Invite, the 'Dogs defeated UC Irvine – the first win in the series for the Bulldogs.

With a record of 8-3, and having defeated seven ranked teams in that span, the Bulldogs earned themselves the highest national team ranking in program history, checking in at No. 3. Fresno State earned the highest ranking by any program in Golden Coast Conference history at No. 3.

Benson continues to develop talent at Fresno State, and that proves in the records each season. In 2024, the Bulldogs had a trio of All-Americans in Hailey Andress (second team), Abbey Simshauser (honorable mention) and Brooke Ochoa (honorable mention).

2023 (HEAD COACH - SIXTH SEASON)
OVERALL RECORD: 18-9
GCC RECORD: 7-0
Benson earned her third-straight Golden Coast Conference Coach of the Year honor as she led the Bulldogs to another GCC regular season and tournament championship season.

Following roster turnover, and boasting a young team entering the 2023 season, Fresno State completed its second-straight undefeated season in conference play behind the leadership of Benson. Fresno State finished the season with an 18-9 overall record and 7-0 mark in GCC competition. The ‘Dogs were led by GCC Player of the Year Brooke Ochoa and the conference’s Newcomer of the Year Hailey Andress. In total, Fresno State had five different Bulldogs earn postseason honors by the conference as Ochoa and goalkeeper Paula Nieto Jasny led as first team selections.

The Bulldogs also had a pair of All-Americans in Andress (honorable mention) and Ochoa (third team).

2022 (HEAD COACH - FIFTH SEASON)
OVERALL RECORD: 19-8
GCC RECORD: 7-0
Benson was named the Golden Coast Conference Coach of the Year and the recipient of the Sandy Nitta Distinguished Coaching National Award.

In just five years of competition, Fresno State women's water polo earned back-to-back GCC championships - both regular season and tournament - as they earned the GCC tournament title and the league's automatic bid to the 2022 NCAA tournament.

It has been a quick rise to the top behind Benson's leadership. In just their fourth full season of competition, the Bulldogs found themselves at the top of the GCC thanks to Benson. The Bulldogs went unbeaten in conference play, captured the top-seed in the GCC tournament, and claimed their second straight tournament title with wins over California Baptist, San Diego State and LMU in the title game.

They were led by GCC Player of the Year Emily Nicholson and GCC Newcomer of the Year Fanni Muzsnay. They both were first-team All-GCC selections. Joining them are second-team All-GCC goalie Paula Nieto Jasny and honorable mention selection Daphne Guevremont. Muzsnay and teammate Brooke Ochoa are GCC All-Freshmen selections. Nieto Jasny was named the GCC tournament MVP and was joined on the All-Tournament team by Muzsnay and fellow-senior Yesenia Preciado. Muzsnay capped the season with a NCAA All-Tournament Second Team selection.

2021 (HEAD COACH - FOURTH SEASON)
OVERALL RECORD: 13-6
GCC RECORD: 6-1
In just its fourth year of competition, Fresno State recorded a historic season. Fresno State finished the regular season with an overall record of 13-6 (6-1 GCC). The Bulldogs took a piece of the Golden Coast Conference regular season championship after recording a program-best six wins in conference play, finishing in a three-way tie for first place with San Diego State and Pacific. This marked the first GCC regular season title in program history. Concluding regular season play, The Bulldogs tabbed two first team, one second team and two freshman team All-GCC selections. Five is the most honorees that Fresno State has earned in program history. Benson was named the 2021 GCC Coach of the Year.

Daphne Guevremont and Emily Nicholson were named All-GCC First Team honorees. Callie Woodruff earned an All-GCC Second Team nod. Kaitlin Howarth and Cynthia Rosa rounded out the Bulldogs' postseason awards. Howarth was named a GCC All-Freshman First Team selection while Rosa tallied All-Freshman Second Team honors.

Fresno State's stellar play during conference earned the team a spot in the GCC Women's Water Polo Championship, a four-team field with the top four teams earning a bid to the tournament. The Bulldogs secured the top seed in the tournament.

The 'Dogs won their first GCC Tournament Championship in program history with a 14-10 victory over the second-seeded and 13th-ranked San Diego State. Claire Schade led the Bulldogs with five points in the game, scoring a hat trick with two assists. The senior finished the tournament leading the field with eight assists and 12 points to earn Tournament MVP honors. Nicholson led all-scorers in the contest with four goals. Woodruff had a goal, an assist and a steal in the title game. Nicholson and Woodruff joined Schade on the GCC All-Tournament Team. The Bulldogs' ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in their history.

Fresno State opened the NCAA Tournament with a 15-7 win over Cal Lutheran in the first round, marking the first tournament win in program history. The Bulldogs' season ended with a 16-9 loss to Stanford, the No. 2 overall seed.

Two Bulldogs earned Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches Division I All-America Team honors. Nicholson was named to the second team while Guevremont was tabbed an honorable mention selection.

Benson was named the 2021 GCC Coach of the Year.

2020 (HEAD COACH - THIRD SEASON)
OVERALL RECORD: 8-7
GCC RECORD: N/A
Fresno State finished the short season with an overall record of 8-7. The Bulldogs chalked four ranked wins. Fresno State had two players earn ACWPC All-American honors in Emily Nicholson (Third Team) and Daphne Guevremont (Honorable Mention). 10 Bulldogs were named GCC All-Academic selections and 12 received Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches All-Academic Team honors.

2019 (HEAD COACH - SECOND SEASON)
OVERALL RECORD: 14-15
GCC RECORD: 4-3
Fresno State finished the season with an overall record of 14-15 (4-3 GCC). The Bulldogs finished the regular season in fourth place, earning the No. 4 seed in the Golden Coast Conference Championship Tournament. The Bulldogs took home third place in the GCC Championship Tournament after defeating San Diego State 15-10. Fresno State had four GCC Player of the Week awards during the regular season. Emily Nicholson earned All-GCC First Team accolades, Callie Woodruff notched All-GCC Second Team honors and Daphne Guevremont was named to the GCC All-Freshman Team. Mackenzie Richards represented the Bulldogs on the GCC All-Tournament Team.

2018 (HEAD COACH - FIRST SEASON)
OVERALL RECORD: 7-18
GCC RECORD: 3-4
Under Benson, the Bulldogs finished their inaugural season with an overall 7-18 (3-4 GCC) record. Fresno State had two Golden Coast Conference Player of the Week awards during the regular season. Fresno State advanced to the fifth place game in the 2018 GCC Tournament before falling to Cal Baptist 13-10 in overtime. Fresno State had two Bulldogs earn GCC accolades in Emily Nicholson and Callie Woodruff. Nicholson was named GCC Co-Newcomer of the Year and received All-GCC Second Team honors. Woodruff received All-GCC Honorable Mention honors. Both Nicholson and Woodruff notched GCC All-Freshman Team recognition. Nicholson finished the season as an ACWPC All-American Honorable Mention honoree. Following the Bulldogs' inaugural season, Benson was named the recipient of the 2018 Sandy Nitta Distinguished Coaching for the Central California Zone by USA Water Polo.

PRIOR TO FRESNO STATE
At her first collegiate coaching job, Benson compiled a 56-49 overall record at Marist in three seasons, going 31-7 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Her team won the regular season championship in 2015, finishing second twice and reaching the conference tournament championship in each of her three seasons. A two-time MAAC Coach of the Year, she has guided two players to MAAC Rookie of the Year awards, six first-team and eight second-team All-MAAC selections. In the classroom, her student-athletes have combined to be named to the MAAC All-Academic Team 16 times.

Benson's coaching career began in 2006, serving as an undergraduate assistant coach at UCLA where she helped lead the Bruins to their fourth national championship in six years. After completing her international playing career in 2008, Benson began coaching at Huntington Beach Water Polo Club out of Huntington Beach, Calif. She led the 18-and-under girl's teams to a gold medal at the 2011 Junior Olympics and a silver medal in 2012 and 2013. In 2011, she was awarded the Doc Hunkler Distinguished Coaching Award, presented annually to the top scholastic coach in the nation.

Benson also served as the head coach of the 2013 USA Water Polo's Women's Cadet National Team, leading the group to a gold medal at the UANA Pan American Youth Water Polo Championships (17U) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Junior National Team (20U) Assistant Coach at Junior World Championships in 2015 (gold medal) and 2017 (Volos, Greece).

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Regarded as one of the best women's water polo players of all time, Natalie (Golda) Benson was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame on May 30, 2015. An integral part of two Olympic medal-winning squads for Team USA at the 2004 (Bronze) and 2008 (Silver) Olympic Games, Benson also led the United States to three Fédération Internationale de Natation World Championship medals (2003, 2005, 2007), including two gold medals. The 2003 FINA World Championship followed a 2001 FINA Junior World Championship title, both which were firsts in program history.

Benson joined the Senior National Team in the midst of a dominant college career that landed her a spot on the Pac-12 All-Century Women's Water Polo Team. In her four seasons playing at UCLA, she guided the Bruins to three NCAA championships, was a three-time All-America selection and ended her career with 158 goals, which at the time was the third-most in program history. Benson was a Class of 2016 inductee into the UCLA Hall of Fame.

After redshirting the 2004 season to compete in the Olympics, Benson returned to UCLA for her senior year and led the Bruins to an undefeated season (33-0), the first in program history, and another NCAA title. She was subsequently named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2005 Women's Water Polo Championships, while also earning the Peter J. Cutino Award, given to the ACWPC National Player of the Year.

In 2007, along with her 2004 Olympic teammates Nicolle Payne and Heather Moody, Benson was inducted into the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) Hall of Fame. The trio became the first female inductees into the NYAC Hall of Fame, which at the time had 121 members since its first induction in 1981.

Involved in the sport for two decades, Benson transformed herself from a player who reached the pinnacle of the sport in college at UCLA and then for Team USA, where she competed in two Olympics, to becoming one of the top up-and-coming coaches in the U.S.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
She currently serves as the chair of the NCAA Women’s Water Polo Committee, and a member of the NCAA Rules Sub-Committee. Benson received her bachelor's degree in history from UCLA in 2006, and her masters degree in public administration from Marist College in 2017.

She and her husband, Eric, have two daughters, Elise and Claire.