Bio

Alstin Benton is entering his 12th season at USM and 11th as the Head Coach of the Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track and Field teams at the University of Saint Mary. Benton served as an assistant at Saint Mary for one season before becoming the Head Coach of the Cross Country and Track and Field Teams during the 2014-15 school season.

During Coach Benton’s time as the Head Cross Country and Track and field Coach the Spires have accumulated an extensive list of awards. During Coach Benton’s time with the University, the program has seen 18 athletes crowned as National Champions (6 individual and 3 relays), 106 All Americans, 25 Conference Championship Teams ( Men’s XC – 13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23 – Women’s XC – 14,17,18,20,21,22,23 – Men’s Indoor Track – 18,19,20,22,23 – Men’s Outdoor Track – 19,21,22,23,24 – Women’s Indoor Track – 23,24 – Women’s Outdoor Track – 22,23,24). The Spires have had 6 National Championship Trophy team performances. These include a 2015,21 and 2023 National Runner-up in Men’s Cross Country and fourth-place finishes at the 2022 Men’s Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships in addition to a Third place finish for Women’s Cross Country in 2023. In addition to these awards, the Spire Men won the 2020-21 and the 2021-22 Program of the Year awards for the NAIA. This is the highest award a team can receive from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

These athletic awards are in addition to several academic awards which include the 2018 Men’s Academic Team of the Year award, Two Google Cloud All-Americans ( Luke Skinner and Christian Graham), and 100 plus Academic All – Americans.

Benton is specifically knowledgeable in the areas of Nutrition and Strength and Conditioning for his athletes. Benton is a Level 1 USATF Certified Coach, NCCAP personal training certified. He was an NAIA National Marathon qualifier and six-time Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference Performer.

Benton graduated with his undergraduate degree in Health and Physical Education from Friends University and his Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Leadership from the University of Saint Mary. Prior to Friends, he competed at Cowley Community College where he was a member of the 2010 NJCAA Cross Country national championship-winning team.

Benton currently resides in Lansing, KS with his wife Cecilia, son Asher, and dog Tempo