Montclair State University head track and field coach Gerald "Bennie" Benson, Jr., who guided the Red Hawks into prominence on the Division III level, died on February 20. He was 36. A moment of silence was observed in memory of Benson at the 2004 NJAC Championships, and following the meet, he was named the 2004 NJAC Men's Coach of the Year posthumously.

Benson spent the last nine years with the Red Hawks taking over a dormant program that last enjoyed success in the 1991-1992 seasons. Since then, Benson elevated MSU into one of the premier programs in the nation.

“Bennie was a very special person,” said MSU Director of Athletics Holly Gera. “He was a tough competitor and a great track coach. He will be very much missed by all of us here at Montclair State. His warmth, his smile and his self-effacing sense of humor were always bright spots in the day.”

Under his tutelage, Benson helped fashion three individual NCAA Division III champions and 42 All-Americans. In addition, Montclair produced 50 New Jersey Athletic Conference champions and saw over 100 athletes named to the All-Conference team.

This season, MSU already had seven athletes qualify for the NCAA Division III Championships in Whitewater, WI on March 12-13, including freshman sprinter Lance Wigfall and sophomore Hashan Johnson, who have posted the best performances in the country in the 400 meters and long jump, respectively.

In 2002, Benson guided the men's indoor track team to a third-place finish at the 2002 NCAA Championships - the highest finish in school history. The Montclair women’s team also enjoyed success as they finished eighth at the 2002 Indoor Championships, which was the second-highest finish in school history. The men's team also finished second at the ECAC Championships, marking the team’s highest finish.

During the 2002 outdoor season, the Red Hawks continued their history-making year as the men's team finished seventh at the NCAA Championships, while the women's team also placed seventh, tying the best-ever finish by an MSU women’s team at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Understandably, Benson was laden with honors by his peers. In 2002 he was named as the NCAA Men's Indoor National Coach of the Year, as well as, the 2002 NCAA Men's Regional Indoor Coach of the Year. He also was honored by The Senate of the State of New Jersey in 2002 for his coaching accomplishments. After the 2000 and 2001 Indoor seasons, Benson was selected as the NJAC Men's Indoor Coach of the Year. He was also the 1998 NCAA Women's Regional Indoor Coach of the Year.

A native of Pittsburgh, Benson graduated from West Mifflin High School in 1985. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Sports Management from Robert Morris College in 1991.

Benson was the father of three children - Chartara, Gerald III, and Brandon.