University of New Hampshire Athletics
Nicole Benson Returns to Wildcats as Assistant Coach
8/7/2025 10:48:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Veteran coach returns to Wildcats for third tenure under head coach Josh Willman
DURHAM, N.H. – UNH women's swimming and diving head coach Josh Willman announced the hire of Nicole Benson as assistant coach. Benson returns to the Wildcats for the third time; she was a volunteer assistant coach under Willman from 2004-11 before returning as a volunteer assistant for the 2018 season. She was part of three UNH America East Championships: 2013, 2014 and 2018.
"I couldn't be happier as I have known Nicole for well over 20 years, and she has worked on and off with our program as a coach for three of our 12 America East championships," Willman said. "We have a great rapport and mutual respect; most importantly, she truly has the passion for swimming that matches my own, and I can't wait get started!"
Benson returns to UNH from Phillips Exeter Academy, where she served as an assistant varsity swim coach at one of the most exclusive private schools in the world from 2018-25. Her leadership played a major factor in the success of a team that produced incredibly talented high school and age-group swimmers at the regional, national and, as of this past spring, international level.
Benson was a standout swimmer at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay where she swam sprint freestyle and backstroke events for three seasons. She still holds multiple top-10 times at UWGB and was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2002. She went on to complete her eligibility at the University of Kansas, where she earned her Master's degree in Sociology.
Benson started her coaching career as a graduate assistant for Kansas and assistant masters swimming coach in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1997 and 1998. She later became the head swimming coach for the YMCA Green Dolphins Swimming club in Wausau, Wisconsin. She also worked as an assistant swimming coach for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where she assisted in recruiting and worked specifically with the sprint group.
After moving to the Seacoast area in the early 2000s, Benson became a huge force within the local swimming community. She initially coached with the Portsmouth High School swim team before launching the Newmarket High School swim program.
During her previous UNH experiences, Benson was part of the coaching staff for Wildcat teams that featured numerous America East record holders and NCAA qualifiers including Amy Perrault and Liza Baykova as well as UNH Hall of Famer Shannon Daly and Melissa Lague. She also coached club swimming, first with the Exeter Swim team, then Commonwealth Current North, formerly SOLO Aquatics (SOLO), which offers year-round competitive swim and dive programs to athletes ages 6 to 21.
"Nicole has had a lot of success with sprinters, and while I can envision her working with our sprint group, she is not just merely a sprint coach," Willman added. "She is a great technician and recruiter and will bring an immeasurable advantage to our program."
Benson and her husband Tom have five children: Andrew, Amy, Alison, Anika and Ada. Amy is a rising college junior and swims for Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, where she is a Division III All-American. Andrew, whose name can be found on the Swasey Pool record board, just completed his fifth year at the University of Wisconsin, where he was a three-year NCAA qualifier and two-time Olympic Trials qualifier. Alison is entering her first year at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and will swim for the Eagles.
"I couldn't be happier as I have known Nicole for well over 20 years, and she has worked on and off with our program as a coach for three of our 12 America East championships," Willman said. "We have a great rapport and mutual respect; most importantly, she truly has the passion for swimming that matches my own, and I can't wait get started!"
Benson returns to UNH from Phillips Exeter Academy, where she served as an assistant varsity swim coach at one of the most exclusive private schools in the world from 2018-25. Her leadership played a major factor in the success of a team that produced incredibly talented high school and age-group swimmers at the regional, national and, as of this past spring, international level.
Benson was a standout swimmer at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay where she swam sprint freestyle and backstroke events for three seasons. She still holds multiple top-10 times at UWGB and was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2002. She went on to complete her eligibility at the University of Kansas, where she earned her Master's degree in Sociology.
Benson started her coaching career as a graduate assistant for Kansas and assistant masters swimming coach in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1997 and 1998. She later became the head swimming coach for the YMCA Green Dolphins Swimming club in Wausau, Wisconsin. She also worked as an assistant swimming coach for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where she assisted in recruiting and worked specifically with the sprint group.
After moving to the Seacoast area in the early 2000s, Benson became a huge force within the local swimming community. She initially coached with the Portsmouth High School swim team before launching the Newmarket High School swim program.
During her previous UNH experiences, Benson was part of the coaching staff for Wildcat teams that featured numerous America East record holders and NCAA qualifiers including Amy Perrault and Liza Baykova as well as UNH Hall of Famer Shannon Daly and Melissa Lague. She also coached club swimming, first with the Exeter Swim team, then Commonwealth Current North, formerly SOLO Aquatics (SOLO), which offers year-round competitive swim and dive programs to athletes ages 6 to 21.
"Nicole has had a lot of success with sprinters, and while I can envision her working with our sprint group, she is not just merely a sprint coach," Willman added. "She is a great technician and recruiter and will bring an immeasurable advantage to our program."
Benson and her husband Tom have five children: Andrew, Amy, Alison, Anika and Ada. Amy is a rising college junior and swims for Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, where she is a Division III All-American. Andrew, whose name can be found on the Swasey Pool record board, just completed his fifth year at the University of Wisconsin, where he was a three-year NCAA qualifier and two-time Olympic Trials qualifier. Alison is entering her first year at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and will swim for the Eagles.
About UNH Swimming and Diving
In 2025, the UNH swimming and diving team won the America East Championship for the fifth time in the last six years. The Wildcats have a league-record 12 championships (1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025). UNH also went undefeated with a 7-0-1 record, marking the second time in program history (2005) the 'Cats recorded an undefeated season.
In 2025, the UNH swimming and diving team won the America East Championship for the fifth time in the last six years. The Wildcats have a league-record 12 championships (1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025). UNH also went undefeated with a 7-0-1 record, marking the second time in program history (2005) the 'Cats recorded an undefeated season.
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