Bena to be named Midview head coach

John Bena, a former assistant coach at Elyria, is expected to be named the Midview girls soccer head coach at a Board of Education meeting on April 25.

Midview announced March 29 that John Bena will be recommended to be the girls soccer coach at the next Board of Education meeting on April 25.

The Middies tweeted the announcement on April 4.

“I am excited that my first chance as a head coach at the high school level comes at a program with the recent success that Midview has enjoyed,” Bena said in a news release. “I am also humbled that I am being trusted with taking the program to the next level. I have been preparing for this for a long time and I cannot wait to get started!”

Bena takes over for Abbey Golden, who became the girls coach at BereaMidpark. Under Golden, the Middies went 40-18-4, winning a sectional title two seasons ago.

Bena was the assistant coach for the boys and girls Elyria teams the past two seasons and holds a U.S. Soccer Federation National D License. He has been a member of the CSA-Impact United coaching staff since 2015 and was previously involved in the Cleveland Futbol Club and Amherst Youth Soccer Association.

“Coach Bena emerged from the candidate pool by showcasing his knowledge, passion and vision for our Girls Soccer program,” Athletics Director Dan May said in a news release. “His student-centered approach will empower our studentathletes to find their own individual and team success on the field. He is also dedicated to instilling a positive atmosphere where players are able to further their love of soccer.”

Bena is a network administrator for Karpinski Engineering and lives in Lorain.

“I am looking forward to getting in front of the team and beginning to build the trust necessary to be successful — as individual players and as a collective team,” Bena said. “We are getting a late start on the offseason, but with the talent that exists on the team, I am confident that we can have the team back to the level they have enjoyed the past couple of years. Our goal this year, and every year, will be to challenge for the SWC and to be competitive with the top teams in Lorain County and throughout Northeast Ohio.

“I am proud to be a part of Middie Nation and I look forward to getting to know the amazing student athletes that call Midview home. We have a lot of work to do, but with the support of the administration and community, I look forward to making Midview proud of our team each and every day — on and off the field!”

Bena