Averkamp Named BENU Director of Student Life & Athletics

Benedictine Mesa announced the return of Charlie Averkamp to the position of Director of Student Life/Athletics. This dual role will lead Redhawk Student Affairs and the Department of Athletics within the Division of Student Life.

"It is great to welcome Charlie home," said Chief Student Engagement Officer Mark McHorney. "Charlie showcased his outstanding ability to engage students where they are at. His leadership style will move the needle for both Student Affairs and Athletics. He is a solution driven leader who is creative and passionate about curating an amazing experience for our students."

Averkamp will return to BENU after spending three years as the head women's basketball coach at Hillsdale College. Averkamp shepherded a return to the conference tournament this season after Hillsdale won 17 games and lost to eventual NCAA Tournament participant Kentucky Wesleyan by a point in overtime. Hillsdale improved in wins in each of his three years, winning nine more games in 2021-22 and four more this season.

"It was very tough for me to leave Hillsdale, but the opportunity to grow and lead at the place that gave me my first head coaching job was too tough to pass up," Averkamp said. "I will miss coaching but look forward to leading coaches and providing a top-notch student-athlete experience for everyone in Mesa. All of my players from Benedictine and Hillsdale have made me a better person and helped me achieve this opportunity, and I thank them and will always be there for them. I am excited to get to Arizona and lead the Benedictine University Redhawks!"

Averkamp, who has earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in Business Management, spent five years at BENU from 2015-2020 as the head coach of the women's basketball program, his first venture as a head coach. During his tenure, the Redhawk program rose to one of the top teams in the region and set the school record for wins in 2018-19 and 2019-20. The team won their first conference title since 1997 and reached the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in program history in 2020. Benedictine was the first and only program in conference history to finish 20-0 in the NACC that season. Averkamp won 98 games in five seasons and owns the best winning percentage among all coaches in program history.

A standout athlete at Edgewood College, Averkamp notched the first triple-double in the history of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference and still ranks in the top-10 all-time in three categories at Edgewood. A four-time all-conference athlete, Averkamp was named the conference Freshman of the Year while helping Edgewood win the conference and reach the NCAA Tournament. Following his college career, Averkamp opened his professional career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater.