Benson’s tribute will be one of the main features in the highlight show, which will focus on the 12 NCAA winter championships, including track and field, wrestling and swimming and diving.

Benson, Jr., who guided the Red Hawks into prominence on the Division III level, died from a heart attack at 

age 36 on February 20—two days prior to Montclair State’s participation in the New Jersey Athletic Conference 

Indoor Track and Field Championships. Despite dealing with their grief, the Red Hawks competed and the men’s 

team placed third. Following the meet, Benson was posthumously and unanimously named the 2004 NJAC 
Men’s Indoor Coach of the Year.

The piece will chronicle the story about the nine-year coach and includes interviews with several members of 

Benson’s team, including captains Eddie Hamilton and Osei Bonsu as well as Montclair State Athletic Director 

Holly Gera. The story also follows the MSU athletes as they competed in the NCAA Division III Championships 
on March 12-13 in Whitewater, WI. The Red Hawk men’s team placed 32nd as its 4x400 meter relay team of 
Hamilton, Jerome Morgan, Paul Noel and Travis Yancey, placed fourth earning All-American honors.

In addition, the opening and closing of the show were done at MSU’s College Hall featuring popular sportscaster 

Bonnie Bernstein. 

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

A memorial service was held for Benson on Wednesday, February 25 at St. Mark AME Church in East Orange, NJ. He was buried in his native Pittsburgh on February 28.