Indiana University Athletics
Benner and Clapp Join Staff (4-15-05)
4/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jody Benner Prior to his arrival to IU, Benner spent 12 years with the Black Bears as an assistant coach, including the last three as an associate head coach. He helped the Black Bears to five America East Tournament titles, eight regular season crowns and seven NCAA Tournament appearances in his 12 seasons with the UM staff. Benner's main role at Maine was the program's recruiting coordinator. He was also in charge of scheduling and summer camps, while assisting in game preparation and scouting.
Benner helped recruit and coach two of Maine's All-Americans, Blodgett and Cassidy. Blodgett went on to score 3,005 career points, good for 4th all-time in NCAA history at the time of her graduation in 1998. She then became the 6th pick in the WNBA draft, selected by the Cleveland Rockers. Cassidy went on to score nearly 2,500 points and record just under 1,000 rebounds. She signed a WNBA contract upon her graduation and played with the Miami Sol. During his tenure at Maine, Benner also coached six America East Players of the Year and three Rookies of the Year.
A native of Wiscasset, Maine, Benner's coaching experience expands outside the Orono community as well. He served as one of the coaches on the 1998 United States all-star team that traveled to France and assisted with game management duties for the men's and women's basketball teams at Lyndon State College in Vermont, a school he attended prior to arriving at Maine as an undergraduate.
"Jody is a great addition to this staff," Versyp said. "He is very enthusiastic and has had a lot of success as an assistant and associate head coach at Maine. We work well together, and he is definitely someone that I wanted to be a part of my staff."
Benner graduated from Maine in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. He and his wife, Christine, have two children, Katherine Ann (4) and Luke Thomas (1).
Martin Clapp Clapp, whose 22 years of coaching experience includes stops at the University of Louisville, Murray State, Arkansas Little Rock, Arkansas College and most recently, as the head coach of the Birmingham Power will serve as an assistant under Versyp.
Clapp arrives in Bloomington after having spent the past two seasons with the NWBL team, the Power. The NWBL is a six-team league that features more than 25 active WNBA players.
Prior to his stint at the professional level, Clapp spent six seasons as the head coach at the University of Louisville, including three as co-head coach. While at the helm, Clapp compiled an overall record of 108-73 and earned 2001 Conference USA Coach of the Year honors. Clapp arrived in Louisville in 1990 where he served as an assistant coach for eight years before moving into the head coaching position.
As the recruiting coordinator on Bud Childers staff, Clapp signed Louisville's first All-American, Morton. Under Clapp's guidance, Morton became Louisville's top- three point shooter and led the nation in three-point field goal percentage (.535) her senior year. Morton went on to be the 34th overall draft pick of the 2000 WNBA draft to the Charlotte Sting.
In his one year with Murray State (1989-1990), Clapp served as scouting coordinator and assisted in coaching the guards. He was also responsible for player conditioning. Before coaching at Murray State, Clapp spent time at Arkansas-Little Rock where he was primarily responsible for guard coaching and recruiting.
The Benton, Ky., native started his coaching career at Arkansas College during the 1983 season as an assistant coach for the women's program.
"Martin knows the game of basketball inside and out," Versyp said. "He has been around it for a long time and has had success in every place he has coached. His work ethic and passion for the game are just what this program needs." Clapp graduated from Murray State in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. Clapp is married to Sara White and has a 14-year old daughter, Chelsea.
