WAYNE, N.J. — Steve Beneventine was emotional Tuesday afternoon when he announced his retirement from coaching soccer at DePaul Catholic in Wayne, New Jersey.
One of New Jersey and the nation’s has called it quits on the sidelines. He went out with a bang.
Beneventine’s announcement comes as no surprise, he came back for the 2024 season with the nationally-ranked Spartans, who featured six Division I players and went 19-1 en route to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Non-Public B state runner-up for the third straight year. DePaul last won the Non-Public B title in 2001, beating Rutgers Prep.
“Finally, it was time,” he acknowledged.
Beneventine was in his second stint coaching soccer at DePaul. He took over the girls’ program in 2019 when then-coach Patrick O’Connor stepped down.
Now Darrell Etienne, one of North Jersey’s top trainers and the team’s trainer in recent years, will take over the program. Beneventine won’t stray too far, remaining the school’s Director of Soccer.
In his final season, the Spartans were a machine with Division I signees, including Nicole Crane (Penn State), Jasmine Ouatu (Coastal Carolina), Alexis Kochan (Buffalo), Leah Bolson (Bucknell), Gabrielle Sanchez (Rutgers), junior Tommi Valente (Rutgers commit) and Gabriela Berrios (Seton Hall). It was a do-everything side that recorded 11 shutouts but ran out of gas, losing in the final to Rutgers Prep, 3-0.
Beneventine piloted DePaul girls over his final five seasons to a 72-7-1 overall mark and 22-2 in the Big North United. DePaul, regularly ranked in New Jersey’s Top 10 and national mentions, won four county titles in the last five tournaments conducted (there was no tournament in 2020 due to COVID-19). In the truncated 2020 season, the Spartans went 9-2 with two titles, including the Big North United (7-0) and NJSIAA North West Regional E. DePaul shut out Morris Catholic, 2-0, in the regional final. “It’s very emotional after 40 years,” said Beneventine.
Actually, Beneventine had two tenures leading the DePaul boys’ program. He started I the 1980s but retired to raise his son and daughter and concentrate on a budding business career.
In the early 2000s, Beneventine resurrected the DePaul boys. Grouped in the uber-strong Big North United with Bergen Catholic, Don Bosco Prep, St. Joseph Regional and Paramus Catholic since 2010, the Spartans held their own. DePaul’s 76-25-8 mark (.762 winning percentage) was tops during that span among the United brethren.
Beneventine also completed his second run as DePaul boss. He spent five years from 1982 to 1986 coaching the Spartans.
When he resurfaced in 2005 to start his 11-year run, Beneventine changed the culture of soccer in Passaic County, reviving a moribund program and accomplishing the unthinkable with two county titles and reaching championship matches. In the last eight seasons, Beneventine’s team went 102-43-8.
He officially shared his retirement Friday, Jan. 10 with athletic director John McKenna and a shared letter with Blue Star Media:
“It is with great sadness that I am writing to tell you that I met with the girls today to tell them that I am retiring from coaching as the girls’ varsity soccer coach of DePaul Catholic High School. I, Athletic Director McKenna and Darrell Etienne were all in the meeting.
As I reflect on my 42-year coaching career at DePaul, we had success on the field with the boys for 30 plus years. We won conference and county championships, but more importantly I think we helped shape a group of productive young men. But I truly believe that God had a plan for me and that plan was to bless me with such a gifted and talented group of young ladies; from Camy Wolf (’21) to Shay Bradley (’21), to Arianna Silva (’22), and Kayla Bower (‘22), These girls built the foundation of the program and made the transition for me seamless and enjoyable as they went on to win conference, county, state sectional and the girls first ever state championship! They were a big part of creating the winning culture for the girl’s program and made an easy transition for the class of 2025, what I call, “The Generational Team”” to decide to come to DePaul.
“How many high school coaches are fortunate enough to be blessed with so much talent. A group of young ladies whose work ethic, commitment to excellence, community, passion, sense of family, and most importantly, understanding the value of the word “TEAM”!
“If all the prospective student athletes and their parents understood the value of a DePaul Catholic education that helped shape these fine young ladies, there would be a line out the front door of 1512 Alps Road.
“I feel there is so much talent returning next year that this is the right time for me to move on. Darrell Etienne; one of the elite trainers in the Northeast will be the girls’ new Head Coach, Cris Urgate will continue to be the Junior Varsity Coach and Steven Beneventine Jr. will continue to be the Goalkeeper Coach. All three are TSF Academy MLS Next Staff. I will miss all of you! If there is anything you ever need, please do not hesitate to reach out,” he said in a prepared statement
