Contact: Ted Schultz, Grinnell College Sports Information Director, schultzt@grinnell.edu

GRINNELL, Iowa -- Midwest Conference Executive Director Heather Benning is among the 10 former Grinnell College student-athletes and coaches set to become the newest members of the Grinnell College Athletic Hall of Fame in the fall of 2026.

Benning, a 1996 Grinnell College graduate, established herself as a strong leader while guiding the women’s soccer program to unparalleled success. She is the winningest coach in Grinnell women’s soccer history, compiling a 167-100-6 record from 1998 to 2013. She led the Pioneers to five conference titles and NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament appearances in 1999, 2004, 2005, and 2006, while coaching more than 50 All-Midwest Conference selections. For the past 12 years, Benning has worked as the executive director of the Midwest Conference.

The celebration of the newest class of Pioneer Hall of Famers will take place during the 2026 Athletics Reunion on Friday and Saturday (September 25-26). This coincides with the College's Family Weekend.

The Grinnell College Athletic Hall of Fame was created in 1995 to recognize the achievements of the College's most accomplished student-athletes, coaches, and administrators. The September event will be the 11th induction ceremony at which time there will be 136 Hall of Famers.

The nine-member Hall of Fame Selection Committee – comprised of alums, faculty and staff members and a student – made the selections.