New Women’s Head Coach For BSC
Benji Walton is no longer the women’s head coach at Birmingham Southern College. The announcement came not from BSC, but rather by Indiana University where he joins the coaching staff of Amy Berbary, as a Hoosiers assistant coach.
BSC did mention his leaving the Panthers in an announcement that his assistant, Emily Pitek Clifford would replace him.
During his tenure, Walton led the program through the transition from NCAA Division I to NCAA Division III. He posted a record of 69-38-5, becoming the all-time leader in wins at BSC, and won at least 10 games in each season.
The 2012 season saw BSC capture the Southern Collegiate Athletic Association (SCAC) regular season co-championship.
“It’s an honor to become a member of an athletic department with such great tradition as Indiana University and to compete in a tough conference like the Big Ten,’ Walton said.
“I am grateful for my time at Birmingham-Southern College and the support I received, both from my players and the great people on that campus. Now, I’m eager to get to Bloomington, see what this group of ladies is all about and work with a staff that is dedicated to bringing Indiana women’s soccer back into contention in the Big Ten.”
Berbary also has an Alabama connection, having served for six seasons on Coach Karen Hoppa’s staff at Auburn University, the past season as Associate Head Coach. She also knew Walton, a native of Lawrenceville, GA, from her playing days at the University of Georgia.
“During my senior year at Georgia, Benji joined the staff there as a volunteer assistant coach and I was able to see what a first-rate coach he was going to be,” said Berbary about Walton. “He knows the game inside and out and is able to draw the most out of players during training sessions. He has recruited high-level players everywhere he has been and I know that will only continue here at Indiana.”
So at BSC the torch has been passed to Pitek Clifford, a New York native who was a four-year starter for the Alabama Crimson Tide, team captain as a junior and senior. She has been a BSC assistant for the past three seasons where the Panthers have been 33-18-3 overall and 17-7-1 in conference play.
“The amount of gratitude I have for former head coach Benji Walton is unrivaled,” Pitek Clifford added. “He has been a great mentor and friend for me and I wish him the best in his new role at Indiana University. He has left this program on the rise, and I intend to continue those winning ways.
“I am also extremely thankful for the support of our Athletic Director, Joe Dean Jr., and his confidence in me to take over at the helm. I believe that this program still has a great deal to accomplish and I look forward to working with our outstanding student-athletes in helping them achieve all of their goals both academically and athletically.”