Joe Bennett’s involvement as a youth coach with Columbia Youth Lacrosse (CYL) started quite innocently. He had brought his two young daughters to an introductory clinic and noticed that the coach had a bigger turnout than she expected.
“I could tell that she was kind of underwater, so I simply said, ‘can I help’ and then I was coaching,” Bennett said. “I just can’t stay away. It’s in my DNA to want to help and interact. Maybe it’s because when I see one coach trying to help kids, I know that one person can never do it all.”
It's now five years later, and Bennett is still part of the CYL and has in fact, helped the program grow substantially during his tenure. From modest beginnings, there’s now nearly 50 girls participating across the elementary and middle school teams.
“Joe has been instrumental in growing lacrosse in mid-Missouri, serving as the head coach for our youth girls’ program since 2023,” said Neha Chugh-Gupta, a Columbia Youth Lacrosse board member. “Under his leadership, the girls’ program has expanded to the point where we have thriving and competitive 10U and 12U teams. He recruits new athletes, builds relationships with families and schools, and inspires participation.”
Bennett says the explanation for his commitment to serving youth players is quite simple.
“When I’m doing lacrosse and I am engaged, I feel good,” he said. “It makes me happy to see other people get that lacrosse bug.”
The lacrosse bug, as he calls it, started for Bennett as a middle school student in Houston. As a multi-sport athlete who grew up also swimming, playing soccer and baseball, he knew right away there was something different about lacrosse.
“As soon as I picked up a stick for the first time, I was completely hooked,” he said. “I was not going back. I was in.”
Bennett’s passion for lacrosse continued through his time at Lamar High School, and later, as a collegiate club player at the University of Wisconsin. Throughout his career as an active player, he worked hard to understand all aspects of the game.
“I was not the largest guy, but one of the things I learned about lacrosse was that there is a way to be physical and competitive without getting your body completely destroyed, and I found that appealing,” he said. “I found an outlet to be able to use my wit and guile in the game. That's really an aspect of the sport that I love, the mental approach to the game. So that was one of my strengths as a player and something that I try to communicate now as a coach.”
As a high school biology teacher, it’s only natural that Bennett tries to explain his lacrosse passion in scientific terms.
“I view it as a good virus,” he said. “It gets in your DNA and it alters your core and makes you better, almost like an evolutionary thing.”
And because coaching the CYL girls, including his two daughters, is just not enough virus for Bennett, he is now also in his first year as the boys’ coach at the school where he teaches, Rock Bridge High School. He accepted the gig despite knowing that there’s virtually no other high school teams within 100 miles of Columbia, which is right in the middle of Missouri, centrally located between St. Louis to the east and Kansas City to the west.
“It’s very challenging to have teams come here to play us, so we have to travel a lot,” Bennett said. “Most teams are not chomping at the bit to come here because they can just stay in St. Louis or stay in Kansas City for their games.”
Despite the challenges, Bennett’s love for the game never wanes.
“His passion for this sport shines in everything he does,” Chugh-Gupta said. “He organizes community events, promotes the sport’s cultural heritage, and leverages his teaching background to connect lacrosse with educational opportunities. He is dedicated to building programs from the ground up and fostering a culture of fun, connection, and resilience. His leadership has made him a cornerstone in lacrosse’s expansion in this region.”
Community Heroes
This USA Lacrosse online series seeks to recognize individuals who are helping to grow lacrosse on the grass roots level. Do you know a USA Lacrosse member who is making a positive difference in their community? Submit an online nomination and share their story.
