Benedictine University women's basketball head coach Charlie Averkamp has stepped down from the position after five years following the most successful run in program history to take a head coaching job at NCAA Division II Hillsdale.
"Today is truly a bittersweet day for me," Averkamp said. "I want to thank Mark McHorney, Paul Nelson and Kate Heidkamp for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to be a part of Benedictine University athletics. Benedictine is a special place, and I have so many amazing memories that I will take with me for the rest of my life. I can't put into words how much all of the players both past and present have impacted my life. I can't thank them enough for everything they have done. To all my amazing assistant coaches, we wouldn't be champions without all of your hard work. I will always be an Eagle."
The 2019-20 season was the most successful season in program history as the women's basketball team won the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference for the first time in program history with a perfect 20-0 campaign. With the perfect record, Benedictine became just the second team in NACC history to finish a season with an unbeaten conference mark. The conference title marked the first for the program since 1997. During the memorable year the team won a school record 17 consecutive games.
Averkamp was selected as the conference coach of the year. The team received an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament, just the second appearance in program history. The team finished 24-4, breaking the single season school record for wins which was set during the 2018-19 season. Four members of the starting lineup were recognized by the NACC with all-conference status.
Averkamp won nearly 100 games during his five-year tenure, compiling a record of 98-35 including an impressive 78-22 mark in conference play. Alex Fanning was selected as the 2019-20 NACC Player of the Year and was an all-region choice in each of the last two years. Over the past two seasons, Benedictine has notched a 45-8 record with a 37-3 mark in NACC play.
Overall during his tenure, 13 players were honored by the conference and two surpassed 1,000 career points. Averkamp posted a winning record in every season, winning at least 16 games during each of his five years.