Waynesburg University Athletics

Entering her fourth year at the helm of the Yellow Jackets, head coach Stephanie Benkowski looks to have Waynesburg returning to a place near the top of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC).

Last year, Waynesburg advanced to the PAC playoffs after posting a 6-8 conference mark and finishing the year with a 10-22 overall record, good enough for fifth in the conference. She also saw two of her players honored as All-PAC selections. Laurie Lindner, then a junior, was lauded as a first-team selection and classmate Amanda Jo Morgan was slotted as an honorable-mention pick.

In 2006, Benkowski guided a youthful Yellow Jacket team, one with nine freshman and one senior, to one win shy of making its seventh-straight appearance in the PAC Tournament. Senior Kaci Hlad earned first-team all-PAC honors, while Lindner was a second-team all-conference selection.

After a rough start to her first season at Waynesburg that had the team four games below .500, Benkowski guided the Yellow Jackets to 13-consecutive victories. Waynesburg went on to finish the season at 21-13 overall with an 11-1 mark in conference play and an appearance in the PAC Championship match.

For her efforts, Benkowski earned PAC Coach of the Year honors. In addition, Lindner earned PAC Freshman of the Year honors and second-team all-PAC accolades, while Hlad received a first-team selection.

Benkowski's success, however, has not been solely on the court. Waynesburg has had the second-most players named to the PAC Academic Honor Roll of any school in the league during her tenure, leading the conference last season with seven members.

A 2001 graduate of Saint Vincent, Benkowski has also experienced much success as a player. While at Saint Vincent, she was a member of teams that compiled a record 90-46 and made three playoff appearances in four years. She received second-team all-conference accolades in each of her last two seasons with the Bearcats.

In addition to starting on the volleyball team at Saint Vincent, Benkowski played four years in the outfield for the Bearcat softball team.

Following her playing career, Benkowski was named the head coach at Point Park. While coaching the Pioneers for four seasons, she coached six players that earned recognition from the conference.

In addition to her coaching duties at Point Park, Benkowski served as Associate Athletic Director and earned her master’s degree in Business Administration.