Gonzaga appoints Katie Benz as head coach of women’s soccer program

SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga Director of Athletics Chris Standiford announced the promotion of Katie Benz as the head coach for Gonzaga women’s soccer .

“We are very excited to name Katie as head coach of our women’s soccer program,” Standiford said. “Her energy and guidance have helped lead the program to new heights, and we’re looking forward to building on that success.”

Benz takes over the role for Chris Watkins who accepted the head coach position at Boston College. After four seasons with Montana, the 2021 season was Benz’s first year as an assistant coach with the Gonzaga women’s soccer program.

“Thank you to Athletic Director Chris Standiford and Deputy Athletic Director Shannon Strahl for this opportunity,” Benz said. “I am honored to be trusted to continue to grow this program in the impressive direction it is already heading. The young women who represent Gonzaga Soccer inspire me to continue the strong tradition of success. Together we will strive for excellence, embrace challenges, and achieve greatness in this exciting journey ahead. The future is bright, Go Zags!”

“Katie’s care for the student-athletes coupled with her competitive spirit and passion for the game are catalysts for the continued growth of this program,” GU Deputy Athletic Director Shannon Strahl said. “Since her arrival on campus, Katie quickly became a Zag, and Gonzaga Women’s Soccer is poised for greatness under her leadership.”

This past season, Benz and Gonzaga celebrated unprecedented success in the 2023 season. The program advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time, and first since 20005, winning its first tournament game ever. The Bulldogs won the West Coast Conference title for the first time, beating Portland, Pepperdine and Santa Clara all in the same season. GU’s six conference wins were the most in program history.

The Zags’ 14 overall victories were the second-most in program history. Gonzaga set new single season scoring (56), assist (44), and point total (156) program records. The Bulldogs had the No. 5 scoring offense in the nation.

Following the season, the GU coaches were named the West Region Staff of the Year. The honor is a result of a vote by other coaches in the region who are also members of the United Soccer Coaches College Services program.

In the 2022 season, the Zags matched their best WCC finish in program history at the time and reached 10 wins in season for the 10th time.

In her second season with GU, the Zags posted a program record 12 shutouts with the guidance of Benz. The Bulldogs won a program record of 15 games with just five losses.

In her first season at Gonzaga, the Bulldogs finished third in the WCC with a record of 5-2-1. This was the first time since 2005 that the Zags have finished top-three in the WCC, and the second time in program history. Benz was also part of the staff that was named West Region Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches College Services program in 2020-21.

At Montana, she was on staff for a pair of Big Sky Conference championships, a tournament title in 2018, which sent the program to its first NCAA tournament since 2011, and a regular-season championship in 2019.

In her first season with Montana, in 2017, the Grizzlies finished second in the Big Sky and advanced to the conference tournament semifinals.

Montana has gone 24-22-16 with Benz as an assistant coach. She oversaw the program for four months in early 2018 while the Grizzlies were between head coaches.

Benz spent the 2016 season working as director of operations at Denver, her first year working at the collegiate level, and coaching in the Colorado Rush club program.

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but raised in Sonoma, Calif., Benz played collegiately at California.

She scored three goals in her first three seasons playing behind Alex Morgan. Each of those teams advanced to the NCAA tournament.

As a senior in 2011, Benz, a one-time Pac-12 Player of the Week, scored 10 goals in Cal’s first eight matches, including a hat trick against Denver, before suffering a career-ending broken leg midway through a season that concluded with another trip to the NCAAs.

Benz graduated from Cal in 2012 with a degree in legal studies. She spent one year after college writing, recording and touring with the band The Youngest. She is married to Patrick Owen and they have a daughter, Annie.