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RIPON, Wis. - Heather Benning is the new Executive Director of the Midwest Conference (MWC) as announced by MWC Presidents’ Council Chairman, and Monmouth College President Mauri Ditzler. Benning becomes the conference’s second full-time Executive Director and will begin her post March 3.

“We were fortunate to have a remarkably strong pool of applicants,” stated MWC Chair and Monmouth College President Mauri Ditzler. “Heather Benning emerged as our unanimous top choice.  I am pleased that the candidate with the strongest credentials has experience as both a student athlete and a coach in the Midwest Conference.”

As Executive Director Benning will be responsible for all operations involving collegiate athletics among and between its 11 member institutions as well as oversee all matters involving conference meetings, legislation, budgeting, marketing, education, eligibility, sportsmanship, championships, scheduling, awards and office management.

Benning comes to the MWC after serving as the Assistant Athletic Director at Grinnell College, located in Grinnell, Iowa, where she also served as Associate Professor of Physical Education, Senior Woman Administrator, Head Women’s Soccer Coach and Coordinator for Title IX in Athletics.

“As a former player, coach and administrator in the league, I’m honored to be named the next Executive Director of the Midwest Conference,” stated Benning.  “I want to thank the search committee and Presidents for providing me the opportunity to help shape the future of one the premier Division III athletic conferences in the country. I look forward to working with our member institutions to build upon the league’s strong tradition of supporting an integrated sporting experience while striving for competitive excellence.”

Administratively Benning supervised multiple team sports, oversaw Grinnell’s compliance program, and was the key leader in the athletic department’s diversity and inclusion initiative.  At the Conference level, she chaired the MWC Oversight, Nominating, Awards, and Women’s Soccer Committees as an athletic representative for Grinnell. Benning is also involved at the national level, serving on the NCAA Division III Membership Committee since 2013 and a member of the Division III Virtual Focus Group for the future of Division III from 2005-12.

Benning began her tenure at Grinnell as an assistant soccer coach in 1995 before becoming the women’s soccer head coach in 1998. She guided the Pioneers to five MWC championships and took her team to the NCAA Tournament four times. She owns the school record for career wins with 167 and went 107-31-8 in MWC play.

Along with the on-field success Benning served on the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Committee, a group she chaired from 2005-2006. She directed the NCAA championship tournament selection process, acted as an NCAA administrator at regional championship matches and oversaw the national championship tournament.

Search Committee Chair, and Cornell College President Jonathan Brand noted the depth of the applicant pool and the strengths of Benning.

“The search committee was very pleased that the Executive Director position opening attracted such a strong pool of qualified candidates,” said Brand. “The committee’s recommendation of Heather came because of her deep understanding of, and commitment to, the Midwest Conference, as a student-athlete, coach, faculty member, and administrator as well as her knowledge of the NCAA.  She is just the visionary leader we need.”

In the classroom she was promoted to Associate Professor of Physical Education in the spring of 2011 and served on institutional committees that included the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, Tutorial & Advising, Alumni Senior Awards, Accessibility, Hearing Board for Conduct Cases and President’s Medal Selection.

Benning’s well-rounded experience in the Midwest Conference serves as a stepping stone for her in her new appointment.

“The conference is honored to have Heather Benning assume this important leadership position,” stated search committee member and Lake Forest Athletic Director Jackie Slaats. “As a Midwest Conference student-athlete, coach, and administrator, Heather cares deeply about the league’s future and her passion for academic and athletic success, along with her expertise in student-athlete well-being, will serve our membership well.” 

Benning earned her undergraduate degree in History from Grinnell College in 1996 and her Master of Art in Sports Psychology and Sport Management from the University of Iowa in 1998. She is a 2003 graduate of the NACWAA Administrative Advancement Institute, completed the NACWAA Leadership Enhancement Institute in 2008, and graded from the NCAA Pathway program in January of 2014.

Benning follows Chris Graham who was the first full-time Executive Director of the MWC and left after 14 years to become the Commissioner of the Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

“As we finalize this transition, we think back one more time to the excellent work Chris Graham did as our first full-time Director,” added Ditzler. “We look forward to Heather building on the fine traditions that Chris established.”

With the hiring of Benning the MWC office will now move to Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa. For the past 14 years the MWC has resided on the campus of Ripon College, located in Wisconsin.

“The transition of the conference office is bittersweet, noted Ditzler.  “For the last 14 years the MWC offices and leadership has been tied to Ripon College.   Ripon has been a wonderful host.  At the same time, we look forward to a new era where we will build new contacts for the office and make equally strong friends at Grinnell.   I appreciate the hard work of so many at Grinnell and Ripon to enable this transition.”

The Midwest Conference is currently comprised of 11 private, liberal arts colleges and universities in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin: Beloit College, Carroll University, Cornell College, Grinnell College, Illinois College, Knox College, Lake Forest College, Lawrence University, Monmouth College, Ripon College and St. Norbert College.


For more information on the Midwest Conference, please visit http://www.midwestconference.org.