ELLSWORTH — Logan Benson, a Class of 2019 graduate from Ellsworth, was approved as the next varsity head coach for the school’s girls basketball program at the July 8 meeting.

“I’m super grateful to be back in Ellsworth where it all started,” Benson said. “Absolutely thrilled to give back to the program that shaped me and my basketball journey. Everything from the start was Ellsworth basketball.”

During Benson’s varsity playing days, he set the school record in points (1,330), rebounds (874) and assists (297) over his four high school seasons. Benson went on to the college level, spending three years at Southwest Minnesota State before returning to the area for a pair of seasons at UWRF. After college, Benson returned to Ellsworth as a physical education teacher and assistant boys basketball coach over the last two years.

Benson credited his time as an assistant in the boys program for allowing him to blossom quickly as a coach.

“It’s kind of been my dream ever since I was a little kid. Drawing plays in a notebook, whether that was basketball or football, I knew I always wanted to run my own program and do things my way, put my own spin on it,” Benson said. “It almost just felt like a calling and the right time to try and do it. I felt pretty prepared coaching under Derek Staley for the last two years; he runs a very organized ship.”

Benson has an ideal program identity in mind, and he hopes that it will be no secret to fans of the team when they take to the court this winter.

“I want us to be known for playing team basketball, playing with pace, moving the ball up the floor and then just being aggressive. Aggressive in terms of attacking on both ends of the floor and letting our athletes be athletes in space,” Benson said.

With a lot of returning talent on the girls basketball team, Benson is eagerly awaiting the season.