Hengesbach Selected as Interim Women’s Basketball Coach at Benedictine University

Abbey Hengesbach has been tabbed as the interim head coach of the women’s basketball team, taking the reigns from Charlie Averkamp who resigned to accept a Division II head coaching job.

“It is with great respect that I congratulate Coach Averkamp on his new head coaching position,” Hengesbach said. “As the interim head coach at Benedictine, I will remain committed to the success of the women’s basketball program and, most importantly the development of the current and incoming student-athletes. We have a great group of young women who have the understanding and commitment to a culture of excellence. I look forward to this exciting opportunity.”

Hengesbach has spent the past two years as the full-time assistant for the program, helping guide the team to unprecedented heights. The team set the school record for wins in 2018-19 and then broke the mark in 2019-20, winning the program’s first ever Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference title. The 2019-20 team finished 24-4 and reached the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in program history.

Benedictine owns a 45-8 record over the past two seasons including a 37-3 mark in conference play. Hengesbach has worked with four First Team All-NACC honorees in two years including the 2019-20 conference player of the year, Alex Fanning.

A decorated collegiate player, Hengesbach was a three-time All-American and the 2016 NAIA Division II National Player of the Year at Olivet Nazarene. The native of Westphalia, Mich. joined the staff at Benedictine following two years at the University of St. Francis. While at St. Francis, Hengesbach helped the program to the quarterfinals of the NAIA Tournament while working with four All-Americans and five all-conference players.

https://benueagles.com/news/2020/7/3/hengesbach-selected-as-interim-womens-basketball-coach.aspx