The City College of New York has announced that Joseph Benson, a proud alumnus and longtime assistant coach, has been elevated to Head Coach of the men's and women's cross country and track & field programs ahead of the 2025–26 academic year, Interim Director of Athletics Karina Jorge announced Thursday.
“Joey is a product of our program who understands the demands, the legacy, and the potential of CCNY Athletics,” said Interim Director of Athletics Karina Jorge. “His passion for CCNY, combined with his leadership, consistency, and deep understanding of our programs, make him the ideal choice to lead our cross country and track & field programs. He’s helped lay the foundation for much of our recent success, and we are confident he will continue to build a culture of excellence and elevate our teams both competitively and academically.”
A dedicated member of the CCNY coaching staff since 2017, Benson has been instrumental in the success of the Beavers' cross country and distance squads. His tenure has been marked by championship performances, NCAA Regional appearances, and a steadfast commitment to the athletic and personal development of his student-athletes.
During his time as an assistant coach, Benson helped lead CCNY to numerous CUNY Athletic Conference titles across both track & field and cross country:
- Men's Cross Country CUNYAC Championships: 2018, 2019
- Men's Indoor & Track & Field CUNYAC Championships: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
- Men's Outdoor Track & Field CUNYAC Championships: 2018, 2019
- Women's Indoor Track & Field CUNYAC Championships: 2018, 2019, 2020
- Women's Outdoor Track & Field CUNYAC Championship: 2018
- Women's Cross Country CUNYAC Runner-Up Finishes: 2021, 2022
In 2022–23, Benson was elevated to Co-Head Coach for the indoor track & field season, guiding the men's team to a dramatic one-point victory at the CUNYAC Indoor Championship and earning CUNYAC Coach of the Year honors. Later that spring, both the men's and women's outdoor teams finished as runners-up at the conference championships.
A passionate runner, Benson's journey with CCNY began as a student-athlete from 2014 to 2015, competing in both cross country and track & field. He later served as team manager before earning his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from CCNY's Grove School of Engineering. Outside of athletics, Benson works professionally in Radio Frequency (RF) Engineering, where he designs critical communication infrastructure for high-level projects—bringing the same precision and problem-solving approach to his coaching philosophy.
