New Varsity Baseball coach David Benson and his plan for the future of Lake Stevens Baseball
David Benson has been hired on as the new baseball coach, replacing former coach Josh White. Coach Benson coached at Cascade High School, but once the position opened he jumped on the opportunity.

Benson moved to Lake Stevens in 2016 and currently works at Boeing as his main job. He is also a pitching coach at Base By Pros located here in Lake Stevens. He works with kids of all ages to help build a well-respected baseball program and get them ready to play high school ball.

He understands that from the outside, LSHS looks to be a football school. He hopes to change the perception of people and see us as a baseball school as well amongst WESCO.

Benson is hoping to continue the program and make it a consistent state contender team. He plans on doing this by building up a team around what he calls the “core four”, which are his four main philosophies when coaching.

“These core four are points that I hope to drive home in all of my athletes. Accountability, Attitude, Effort and Family,” Benson said.

He believes in players having to fulfill their roles and all work together for the best outcome. This is where his accountability and effort come into place. He hopes to build a family among teammates and create connections where guys will have each other’s backs and support each other.

Benson understands that this year might be weird and different, especially for players.

“Getting a new coach isn’t always the easiest thing for athletes, especially for older players as they are accustomed to doing things a certain way,” Benson said.
He will be putting constant pressure on the opposing team and players.
“It will be a new coaching style,” Benson said. His style is more aggressive than most. Through his former experience playing SEC teams, he says the teams are relentless. This forces players to make plays and to be able to easily execute tasks. He hopes to make this coaching change as easy and as smooth as possible.

Senior Trey Nance is excited and looks forward to the new season and what could come from it.
“As returning seniors, it is our job to help build up a new family after losing 13 seniors last year,” Nance said.

Nance really likes the new coach and has been able to connect with him and talk through Base By Pros. He believes Benson will create a positive change for the program and can take the team farther into the season, all the way to state.

Nance isn’t too concerned with the new coaching change and believes the transition will go smoothly because high school age athletes have played for numerous teams and coaches and have had to adapt to it quickly.

Junior Aspen Alexander is also really looking forward to this upcoming season and has heard a lot of good things about Coach Benson. He understands it is a young team, but he feels they can make it a good year and rebuild the family of Lake Stevens Baseball.

“I think it will be a very positive and effective change for the baseball program,” Alexander said.
He understands there will be setbacks with new philosophies and coaching style but believes it’s nothing that the team can’t push through and figure out.

Lake Stevens isn’t just getting a new varsity coach, former JV coach Jake Hereth also stepped down and filling his place will be Coach Lyle Gadin. Gadin is already in the Lake Stevens baseball community, as he coaches 16U Arsenal, a baseball program out of Lake Stevens.

Also new Assistant Coach Nick Klemp will be joining Benson at the Varsity level. Klemp is a former player from Cascade High School where he started for thee years and then continued playing baseball at Everett Community College, where he then transferred to University of Portland on scholarship. He ended up setting a school record at University of Portland for single season hits (83) amongst other accomplishments, such as first team WCC catcher and first team academic.

Klemp will be Lake Stevens’ primary offensive coach. Benson is also in search of a few more coaches in hopes to make an effective change here in the program.

Coach Benson is extremely excited for this opportunity and is hoping to make the best out of it continue the successful tradition the Lake Stevens baseball program already has.

“Go Vikings #Skuldalio,” Benson said.

(Skuldalio: an old norse word meaning Family)