BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Former Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) head men’s water polo coach and Senior Associate Director of Athletics John Benedick was featured on an episode of the 1.Question Podcast, a series of conversations with leaders in the field of college sports.
A Fall 2011 inductee to the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Hall of Fame, he became the sixth head coach selected for induction, Benedick led the Engineers men’s water polo program from 1975-to-1996. During his tenure on the bench, he tallied an overall record of 158-263-2 to rank as the all-time wins leader in the history of the sport at MIT.
The coach of 10 Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-America selections and 15 All-New England picks, he captured the 1991 CWPA Division III Eastern Championship and reached the Division III Eastern title game three-times (1991, 1994, 1996).
MIT’s swimming & diving coach along with his duties as water polo coach, he helped 50 of his athletes earn All-America honors, produced numerous conference champions, and developed three national champions in swimming.
Upon the completion of his coaching role, he assumed the position of Assistant Director of Athletics at MIT in 1997 He dealt with the development of operational processes and procedures for the intercollegiate athletic program. He ascended to the position of Associate AD and finally Senior Associate AD during his 44-year tenure at MIT.
Among the founding fathers of the CWPA, he was instrumental in the planning of MIT’s current facility, the Zesiger Center, visiting over 20 top facilities to draw ideas and provide feedback as to what the institution needed in an aquatics and recreation facility.
A past President of the CWPA and member of the organization’s Board of Directors, Benedick graduated from California State University at Hayward with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education before earning a Master’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
As a swimmer and water polo player at Cal-State Hayward, Benedick was an All-America honoree in three individual events and two relays. He was also the team captain and Far Western Conference Champion in the 50-yard freestyle.
He retired from MIT at the conclusion of the 2018-19 academic year.
