Wheeling, W. Va. - On Tuesday, the Wheeling University Athletic Department announced a restructuring of their Athletic Administration hierarchy. The first part of that restructuring is the announcement of longtime Head Volleyball Coach, Christy Benner, adding the title of Assistant Athletic Director for Internal Operations to her role. 

In addition to leading the Wheeling University Volleyball team, Benner will now also oversee team transportation, coach mentoring, and other aspects of the department's internal operations growth. 

"I am so excited to be taking on the role of Assistant Athletic Director for Internal Operations," said Benner. "We have a lot of really exciting things happening in the department and I can't wait to continue to help the growth of the department. With so many young, strong leaders throughout our team, I look forward to helping them grow as head coaches and leaders for our athletic department." 

Along with her duties as Wheeling University Head Volleyball Coach, Benner will now oversee all internal operations of the department. One of her main roles will be the department's transportation coordinator, where she will handle all aspects of team travel and making sure each team has the tools they need to get to their events safely. In addition, she will serve as a mentor to the other coaches in the department, helping them grow as leaders for their teams. She will work directly with Wheeling University Athletic Director Carrie Hanna to ensure that the department's processes and procedures are organized, making the department more efficient as a whole. 

For the last 23 seasons, Benner has led the Wheeling University Volleyball program, creating a winning culture both on and off the court. She has led the Cardinals to a 724-173 (.807) during her tenure, that has included 16 Conference Tournament Championships, seven NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships, seven NCAA Elite Eight Appearances, 2 NCAA Final Four Appearances, and the 2015 NCAA National Championship. During the 2024 season, she became just the 20th active coach across all three divisions of the NCAA to earn her 700th career victory. Along with her success on the court, her teams have been high performers in the classroom, having won 10 consecutive American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Awards. 

"Christy Benner adds a wealth of knowledge and the highest standards of professionalism that will enhance Wheeling University's Cardinal Athletics operational excellence." 

The Moundsville, West Virginia native is a Wheeling University alumna and has been with the university since 2002. She and her husband Matt Benner have coached the Wheeling University Volleyball program together since she began her tenure, and their son Max currently attends Wheeling University.