2021 Northwest Herald Boys Basketball Coach of the Year: Huntley’s Will Benson

Huntley graduated its entire starting lineup from last season’s 27-7 boys basketball team that tied the school record for victories and won a Class 4A regional championship.

The most notable losses were Uchenna Egekeze and Ryan Sroka, both of whom left the program with more than 1,000 points and 500 rebounds and were named to the 2020 Northwest Herald All-Area team.

Red Raiders coach Will Benson had backups Ben Ahmer and Daniel Cruz, who saw some action last season, with a new cast of players.

Huntley came back strong, taking second in the Fox Valley Conference again and then finishing third in the FVC Tournament. The Raiders were 10-3, losing to FVC champion Burlington Central, Cary-Grove (in the tournament) and Crystal Lake South. They handed Marengo, the Kishwaukee River Conference winner, one of its two losses.

Benson, in his seventh season at Huntley, is the Northwest Herald Boys Basketball Coach of the Year, selected by the sports staff with input from area coaches. It was Benson’s third consecutive winning season with the Raiders.

With Benson winning, there now are eight Coach of the Year recipients still coaching at their respective schools: Lance Huber (Dundee-Crown, 2009), Brandon Creason (Richmond-Burton, 2012), Al Baker (Woodstock, 2013), Nate Wright (Marengo, 2015), Jimmy Roberts (Jacobs, 2017 and 2018), Matt LePage (Crystal Lake South, 2019) and Adam McCloud (Cary-Grove, 2020).

Benson, a former point guard at Crystal Lake South, answered a few questions from Northwest Herald sports writer Joe Stevenson.

What sport would you just be no good at coaching?

Benson: There are several, but I would probably say golf. Anyone who has played with me will tell you I wouldn’t be able to teach anyone how to swing correctly. Plus, there are a ton of little rules that I wouldn’t be able to remember.

Who is the best speaker you have ever heard at a coaches’ clinic?

Benson: It’s a tie between Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo and Northwestern assistant coach Brian James. Izzo is an engaging, down-to-earth guy. He spoke about their defense and rebounding and I’ve always tried to incorporate some of his philosophy, especially the rebounding philosophy because they’re always so good in that category on the national level. James if very down-to-earth too. He spoke on special situations, which I always find fascinating because so many games come down to the last couple minutes. He showed different plays from different spots with different amounts of time: For example, full court, 5 seconds to go, down two; three-quarters court, 8 seconds to go, down 1. He took questions about those situations and had options for the plays he had just heard.

Do you have any pregame superstitions or rituals?

Benson: My pregame meal is always a breakfast sandwich and coffee.

What would be your go-to karaoke song?

Benson: Pretty much any song from Luke Combs.

Which one of your players might some day make a good coach?

Benson: Zak Link. He was one of our leaders the past two seasons. He is a very smart player and understands the value and importance of all the different roles on a team. His personality makes a lot of people gravitate toward him.

Who do you have in your NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four?

Benson: Illinois, Gonzaga, Baylor and Alabama. I’m obviously rooting for Loyola (with Jacobs graduate Cameron Krutwig at center) now like most people.

Do you remember what your career-high was in scoring?

Benson: I think I scored in the low 20s in a game my senior year at Grayslake High School (there was no Grayslake North back then and Grayslake was in the FVC at that time).

What is it like in a huddle when you’re trying to set up a play that can win the game?

Benson: The last several years I have gotten better at slowing my mind down in those moments and trying to speak clearly and calmly so our guys know what we want to do. Our staff is really good too, so sometimes it isn’t even me drawing up a play in that situation (like at Cary-Grove this past year). (Assistant coach) Ryan Starnes has certain plays that he knows are his to draw up and (assistant) Chris Heward has other plays that are his, so if the situation calls for one of their plays, it doesn’t matter at what point we are in the game, they know it’s going to be one of them to draw up that play. Our players and I trust those guys 100%.

What is the last really good book you read?

Benson: It’s not a new book, but “The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball’s Most Improbable Dynasty,” by Adrian Wojnarowski is really good. It’s about Bob Hurley coaching at St. Anthony High School in New Jersey.

You get to coach on any college staff in the nation, who would you want to work with?

Benson: It’s a tie between Tom Izzo at Michigan State and Jay Wright at Villanova.