ACAA Badminton Coach of the Year: Richard Bennicke

In March of 2022, one week after the Mounties varsity badminton season had come to an end, then-head coach Mike Miller called a team meeting to inform the group this season would be his last. Throughout the year, a core group of walk-ons and veterans had come to understand the positively changing culture of the badminton program in preparation for a future run of championship banners. Nonetheless, one missing piece was yet to be filled before this team would become poised for such success.

It would not be accurate to say Richard Bennicke walked into the gymnasium in October 2022 for the ensuing season's tryouts. The newly appointed head coach from Dalhousie's Agricultural Campus wheeled into Tantramar High School after having experienced a successful operation. Bennicke's adaptability, resilience, and commitment to his new team would serve as an example to us all right away from day one.

After just two full seasons with Mount Allison, finding another coach as committed to his team as Bennicke is to his badminton Mounties would be a difficult challenge. When he was selected as the 2023-24 ACAA badminton coach of the year and nominated for national coach of the year, everybody in garnet and gold knew he deserved every piece of his incoming hardware.

Bennicke has already accumulated two silver medals in the Atlantic Conference and played a significant role in sending twelve total athletes to the National Championships in Truro, NS and King City, ON. His commitment to badminton is unmatched, spending countless hours recruiting from around the Maritimes and even into Western Canada, communicating external tournament information, drawing up tournament rosters, and acting as the frontman to promote the badminton program at Mount Allison.

Aside from his on-court and in-office excellence, Bennicke's most significant contribution to the team may just be everything that comes with playing badminton. With Bennicke's arrival, Mounties badminton has grown in vibe, culture, amiability, and community.

After every medal, National tournament, and successful match becomes but a thing of the past, it might just be the friendships made that underline each and everyone's experiences as a part of Mount Allison's badminton team; Richard Bennicke is due a thank-you that goes beyond words for these beautiful memories each athlete will cherish for the rest of their lives.

A well-deserved award, to say the least, Bennicke hopes to lead the program to its first championship season in seven years when 2024-2025 gets underway.

Courtesy of Ben Broadbent