Dan Behnke Named Head Coach of Seattle University Volleyball

SEATTLE – Dan Behnke, who brings nine years of collegiate head coaching experience, has been named head coach of Seattle University volleyball, Director of Athletics Shaney Fink announced Wednesday. 

"Coach Behnke is a proven winner who has demonstrated success transforming and elevating programs, developing student athletes and creating a championship culture," said Fink. "He embodies the values of Seattle University and we are thrilled to welcome him to the Redhawk Family." 

Behnke spent the last four seasons at the helm of Saint Martin's University, breaking the program's single-season wins record three consecutive times. He led the program to numerous firsts and capped his tenure with the best season in program history, finishing 17-11 overall in 2023. The Saints earned three All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference award winners for the first time in program history in 2023 including SMU's first-ever First Team All-GNAC honoree, as well as the GNAC Freshman of the Year and an Honorable Mention All-GNAC selection.

"I would like to thank President Eduardo Peñalver, Shaney Fink, Eric Guerra and the entire search committee for the opportunity to lead Seattle University volleyball," said Behnke. "The connection and camaraderie shared between coaches, student athletes and departments was exciting to witness during my campus visit. My family and I are thrilled to join the Redhawk family and I can't wait to meet the team and begin our journey together." 

Prior to Saint Martin's, Behnke spent five seasons as head coach of Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas, turning around a program that won just five matches in 2014 to a 26-win, Red River Athletic Conference regular season and tournament champion in 2019. The Rams made their first NAIA National Tournament appearance, claimed two RRAC regular season titles and one tournament championship under Behnke's guidance. He coached three All-Americans and 36 All-RRAC players along with three RRAC Front-Row Players of the Year, two Setters of the Year and one Defensive Specialist of the Year. Behnke was named RRAC Coach of the Year in 2018 and 2019.

Behnke's collegiate volleyball coaching career began as a volunteer assistant at Texas State in 2014. His role as the serving coach included all aspects of practice planning, skill development and data collection for a squad that ranked as high as 47th in the nation.

Prior to Texas State, Behnke coached juniors volleyball for nine years, leading his team to the USA Girls Junior National Championships in his final two seasons.  

As a player, Behnke was team president and a right-side hitter for the University of Wisconsin-Stout men's club team. The team earned top-25 national rankings each of his four seasons. 

Before full-time coaching, Behnke spent 14 years serving youth and families in the field of social services. Behnke received the 2008 Champions for Children Award in recognition of changing children's lives in the greater Austin community. Originally from Neenah, Wisc., Behnke earned his Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 2000. 

Stay connected with Seattle U volleyball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.