Virtue Rounds Out Coaching Staff With Associate Head Coach Benavia Jenkins
2/14/2023 1:27:00 PM
// Bridgette Underwood
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — University of Michigan volleyball head coach Erin Virtue announced Tuesday (Feb. 14) the hiring of Benavia Jenkins as associate head coach.
“We are thrilled to welcome Benavia and her family to Ann Arbor,” said Virtue. “Benavia will bring compassionate competitiveness to our program. Her experience as a Hall of Fame student-athlete, a professional athlete of 10 years, and a Division I head coach will all benefit the growth of Michigan volleyball. As we build this staff here at Michigan, character and championship experience remain top priorities, and Benavia just hits it out of the park. Please join me in welcoming Benavia to the University of Michigan.”
Jenkins comes to Ann Arbor after four seasons as the head coach at East Tennessee State University where she led the Bucs to an overall 43-32 record during her tenure. Prior to ETSU, Jenkins spent three years as the assistant coach at the University of South Florida and saw time at Coastal Carolina and Santa Fe College. As an assistant coach over the years, Jenkins has help compile an overall record of 111-55.
During her inaugural season at ETSU, Jenkins rallied her team to a 25-6 overall record and went 14-2 in conference play to finish second, falling in the championship game. Jenkins produced the SoCon Freshman of the Year in Olivia Cunningham, two first-team All-Conference selections (Kaela Massey and Marija Popovic), two second-team All-Conference selections (Emily Arnold and Olivia Cunningham) and three SoCon All-Freshman selections (Olivia Cunningham, Emily Arnold and Lauren Hatch).
At the end of her third season, Jenkins produced four SoCon preseason selections, nine all-tournament selections, 15 Player of the Week awards, three first-team all-conference selections, four second-team all-conference selections, five all-freshman selections and a SoCon Freshman of the Year.
Jenkins started her coaching career at Lincoln Park Academy in 2010 and was the founder of the A-Vaneb Volleyball Academy in Fort Pierce, Fla. Following her three-year stint as head coach at Lincoln Park Academy, Jenkins took over as an assistant coach at Santa Fe College. In 2014, the Saints’…
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