CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Northwest High School’s Athletic Department is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Benne as the new Head Baseball Coach for the Northwest High School Vikings.
Coach Benne holds a bachelor’s degree in History Education from The University of Tennessee at Martin. Benne is also a 2009 graduate of Northwest High School and will be returning home to his alma mater not only as baseball coach, but as a member of the faculty as well. He will be teaching World History and Government for the 2016-17 school year. Coach Benne grew up in Woodlawn, TN and played four years for the Northwest Baseball Team under the direction Charles Sleigh. While in high school, Benne also played for numerous travel ball teams throughout the mid-state. After completing his degree at UT Martin, Benne returned to Northwest as an Assistant Baseball Coach under Dan Stephens for two and a half years.
This past year, Benne has been serving as the Head Baseball Coach for Forrest Middle School in Marshall County, TN, where he also served as an Assistant Coach for the Forrest High School Baseball and Football teams. Coach Benne shared that he loved baseball because “Baseball is a special game; it’s the only sport of its kind. You earn everything you get from the game. I especially love how it doesn’t matter what your size, ability, or background is, you can play baseball. It’s America’s favorite pastime because it embodies America’s spirit to compete all the way to the last out.” He credits his passion for the game to his father, Jim Benne. “He coached baseball before I was born and taught me the game when I was young. Every father and son relationship begins with those nights in the yard playing catch, and I am forever grateful for the bond with my father.”
When asked about his new coaching position, Benne replied that he is “looking forward to returning home to Northwest and being a part of the best school in Clarksville-Montgomery County. I can’t wait to get back to Northwest, and I am excited to build a baseball program that reflects the excellence of our school and community. Previous coaches have laid the foundation for something special here, and I am excited to lead the program to the next level. This is a destination job for me. I want to make my community proud for years to come.”
Northwest High School’s Athletic Director, Jessica Peppard, said, “It is always something special to have an alumni join our faculty and coaching staff. Coach Benne has a wealth of baseball knowledge and has had the opportunity to learn from other great coaches throughout his baseball career. He has a strong vision for the future of our program, and we believe he will continue to grow our athletes and push them to achieve excellence, both on the field and in the classroom. I am excited to see what our boys can do next season under his direction.”