Kat Benton-LaEzza

Kat Benton-LaEzza joined Tracy Joyner's staff as an assistant coach in the spring of 2025.

“Kat brings a fantastic pedigree to the program,” said Joyner. “Her success as both a player and coach will add knowledge and passion to our staff. She has a great energy. She’s competitive, gritty, positive, and hard-working. I’m excited for our program and welcome her to the Duck family.”

The Ducks gave up just 21 goals in Benton-LaEzza's first season, 2025. That was tied for the fifth-best defensive effort overall and tied for the third best in the modern era (not including a Covid-shortened season).

Though the team's record was 3-10-5, 14 of the 18 matches were decided by one goal or ended in a tie. The highlight of the season was Oregon's 2-1 upset of No. 8 Washington in the season finale. It was the Big Ten-champion Huskies' only loss in conference play, and it was just the third victory over a top-10 team in program history.

Before moving to Oregon, Benton-LaEzza was an assistant coach at Chico State, where she helped the Wildcats to a 36-21-17 record over the last four seasons. Chico State was 10-3-5 in her first season, 2021, and qualified for the conference tournament. The Wildcats also qualified for the CCAA Championships in 2022 with a 9-5-5 mark and 2021 with an 11-7-1 record.

Prior to joining Chico State, Benton-LaEzza served as an assistant coach at Kansas State for two seasons (2019-20).

Her coaching career began in 2009 at her alma mater, Kansas Wesleyan, where she logged five seasons as an assistant, overseeing the program’s recruiting efforts while also serving as the head coach for the junior varsity team

After working in the Olympic Development Program for a number of years, Benton-LaEzza returned to KWU in 2017 as head coach and guided the Coyotes to a 27-11-4 record over two seasons.

In 2018, her final year at KWU before moving to Kansas State, Benton-LaEzza led the Coyotes to a 17-3-2 overall mark and an 11-0-1 record in conference play. KWU captured both the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) regular-season and tournament titles and Benton-LaEzza was named KCAC Coach of the Year. She became the first female, Latinx and openly LGBTQ+ coach to receive that honor from the KCAC.

Benton-LaEzza spent eight years working with the Kansas Olympic Development Program and two years with the West Region ODP Girls 08 and 09 age groups. She coached the Sporting Kaw Valley Premier team while also serving as the organization’s Technical Director. Benton-LaEzza was recognized as the Kansas State Youth Soccer Association Girls Competitive Coach of the Year in 2016.

She was also an active member of the Salina (Kan.) Soccer Club, serving as a coach in addition to handling the program’s Director of Academies and Assistant Director of Coaching duties.

As a player, Benton-LaEzza was a two-time letterwinner and two-year team captain at Kansas Wesleyan, leading the Coyotes to back-to-back KCAC regular season and tournament crowns, plus a pair of NAIA National Tournament appearances. Her 2007 squad was the first in KCAC history to win the NAIA Region IV title. That team was inducted into the KWU Hall of Fame in October 2017.

Benton-LaEzza collected a number of honors playing at Kansas Wesleyan. She was a two-time All-KCAC First Team and NSCAA All-Region selection, and in 2007 was named KCAC Newcomer of the Year while earning NAIA All-America honorable mention status.

Benton-LaEzza received her associate of liberal arts degree in 2007 from Santiago Canyon College in Orange, Calif., and a bachelor of arts degree from Kansas Wesleyan in 2009. She earned a Master’s degree in business administration and sports management from Kansas Wesleyan in 2011.

In addition to holding several top coaching certifications including a USSF B License and USC Premier Diploma, Benton-LaEzza was selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) prestigious “30 under 30” class in 2014–15, spotlighting the top 15 women and 15 men in the country as the best up-and-coming soccer coaches under 30 years of age.

Benton-LaEzza has been married to her wife, Analina, since the spring of 2020. The couple reside in Eugene with their Golden Retriever, Quigley Freud, and Golden Doodle, Phoebe Kerr.