2009 Men's Soccer
2009 Men's Soccer Coaches
Brenton Benware - Head Coach - 1st Season
Head Coach
bbenware@montreat.edu
828-713-6514
Brenton Benware is in his second year as head coach of the men's soccer squad at Montreat College. In 2008, his Cavaliers posted a regular season record of 12-4-1 and an overall record of 12-5-2. That team represented the conference with one NAIA All-American, 8 AAC All-Conference selections, AAC Player of the Year and AAC Freshman of the Year. In addition, they were nationally ranked as high as #11 within the NAIA.
828-713-6514
Brenton Benware is in his second year as head coach of the men's soccer squad at Montreat College. In 2008, his Cavaliers posted a regular season record of 12-4-1 and an overall record of 12-5-2. That team represented the conference with one NAIA All-American, 8 AAC All-Conference selections, AAC Player of the Year and AAC Freshman of the Year. In addition, they were nationally ranked as high as #11 within the NAIA.
He was most recently head men's soccer coach at Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville, OK from 2004 to 2008. He also coached the women's program there during his first two years. While coaching at OWU, his men's soccer team reached both the NAIA-MCAC Conference Tournament and the NCCAA-Regional Tournament two times each.
Brenton Benware is married to Kelly and they have two chocolate labs. He graduated in 2002 with a B.A. in Business Administration (Oklahoma Wesleyan University), and he'll complete his M.A. in Christian Leadership (Liberty University) this year.
Josh Riccardi - Assistant Coach - 1st Season
Assistant Coach
jriccardi@montreat.edu828-329-3319
Josh Riccardi begins his third year as the Assistant Coach of the men's soccer program. His determination and love for the game enables him to excel in recruiting, scouting, andpulling the very best academically and athletically from his players.
Riccardi, a Montreat alum, played three years for the Cavaliers. He became a very versatile athlete, transforming into a player that could be put into any position on the field. While a player, the Cavaliers continued to improve, culminating with two post season appearances.
Two years ago, Montreat men's soccer program expanded to include a JV squad, which Athletic Director Jonathan Bennett felt Riccardi was the perfect man for the job. His focus was to find what players who would excel academically and athletically, while nourishing their development skills. One of Riccardi's favorite quotes is by Oeida Hatcher, "It doesn't matter how hard or how many times you fall down, what matters is how fast you get back up and recover." In their inaugural season, the JV squad went on to win all their games against JV opponents and had a .500 season in the men's open division in Asheville.
Riccardi's favorite verse is Proverbs 27:19, "As water reflects a face, so does a man's heart reflect the man."And for all the players and Montreat community that know Coach Riccardi, it is obvious that his heart reflects the Christ-centeredness that players come to expect out of the Cavalier athletic department.
Josh is originally from Clearwater, Florida where he attended St. Petersburg College before finishing his academic career at Montreat. He now resides in Black Mountain, North Carolina
