Benson to be new Huntley boys basketball coach

Marengo coach Will Benson has accepted an offer to be the next boys basketball coach at Huntley High School, pending District 158 board approval, according to multiple sources.

He replaces Marty Manning, who resigned last month to take the vacant head coaching position at Schaumburg.

Benson did not immediately return requests seeking comment.

Huntley athletic director Michelle Jakubowski said Saturday she could not comment on the situation.

Benson, 31, takes over his third varsity boys basketball program in six years. He coached at Harvard from 2009-10 through 2011-12, when he compiled a record of 26-58. He resigned following a 6-23 season during which key players were sidelined due to injury.

Benson became the sophomore coach at Jacobs in 2012-13. He was among the finalists for the Jacobs varsity position when longtime coach Jim Hinkle stepped down at the end of that season, but the administration instead hired former Round Lake coach Jimmy Roberts.

Benson was hired shortly thereafter by Marengo, where he had simultaneously applied and interviewed.

Benson took over a Marengo program that in 2012-13 finished 11-19 overall and 5-7 in the Big Northern East, tied for fifth. In his lone season with the Indians, they improved to 20-11 and placed second in the BN-E with a 9-3 mark. It marked the first 20-win season Marengo has enjoyed since 1999-2000, according to records on IHSA.org.

Benson inherits a winning program at Huntley. In eight seasons Manning's teams went 162-68 (.704), won 20 or more games five times and won five regional championships, including three in the last four seasons.