David Benzel
David Benzel is an author, athlete, sport-family coach, and sought-after speaker for organizations nationwide. He brings an athlete's discipline, a coach's inspiration, and a parent's practical experience to teach parents and coaches skills for succeeding in the athletic arena.
David's 15 years as a corporate leadership coach for companies like Nextel, Sprint, Allstate, Balfour Beatty and The Villages established him as an expert in the principles of influence and coaching. And his 10 years as a commentator for ESPN and the Outdoor Life Network provide his audiences with vivid insights about the challenges of sport.
The Growing Champions for Life philosophy was built from David's corporate leadership experience, his own notable athletic career as a champion water skier, and his years coaching others to help them reach peak performance in their athletic endeavors, gain self-confidence and improve their overall life skills.
David has accomplished a great deal throughout his business, athletic and coaching career, but he describes raising children as the ultimate learning experience. Raising two elite-level athletes has given David boundless passion and hundreds of positive strategies for connecting with our athletic children. Daughter Tarah was a Jr. World Water Skiing Champion and is now a professional wake boarder. Son Tyler received a baseball scholarship to Florida Southern College and went on to play professionally for the Newark Bears.
David's athletic and coaching career helped establish him as a leading expert in water skiing and cycling, for which he received numerous accolades, including:
Eight time national water skiing champion
Five time national record holder in water ski jumping
Coach of the US Water Ski Team, winning the World Championships
Coached Cyndi Benzel, (spouse) currently co-holder of a national water ski slalom record
Competitor in Master level cycling winning five races in Florida
Recipient of the Award of Distinction by the Water Skiing Hall of Fame of USA Water Ski
David has been an invited presenter at national conferences to help organizations deliver his important training to coaches and parents.
These include:
USA Gymnastics National Congress
Professional Tennis Registry Coaching Symposium
US Tennis Association Coaches Symposium
US Tennis Association Tennis Teachers Conference
USA Figure Skating National Championships Peak Performance Series
Professional Skaters Association National Coaches Conference
US Youth Soccer National Coaches Conference
USA Swimming National Age Group Coaches Conference
David is dedicated to helping sports parents and coaches incorporate positivity and persistence into their communication with the young athletes who count on their encouragement and guidance. For child athletes, sports performance and personal growth is a journey that must start on the individual level, and requires persistence and direction every step of the way from the adults who interact with them.
David Benzel is an author, athlete, sport-family coach, and sought-after speaker for organizations nationwide. He brings an athlete's discipline, a coach's inspiration, and a parent's practical experience to teach parents and coaches skills for succeeding in the athletic arena.
David's 15 years as a corporate leadership coach for companies like Nextel, Sprint, Allstate, Balfour Beatty and The Villages established him as an expert in the principles of influence and coaching. And his 10 years as a commentator for ESPN and the Outdoor Life Network provide his audiences with vivid insights about the challenges of sport.
The Growing Champions for Life philosophy was built from David's corporate leadership experience, his own notable athletic career as a champion water skier, and his years coaching others to help them reach peak performance in their athletic endeavors, gain self-confidence and improve their overall life skills.
David has accomplished a great deal throughout his business, athletic and coaching career, but he describes raising children as the ultimate learning experience. Raising two elite-level athletes has given David boundless passion and hundreds of positive strategies for connecting with our athletic children. Daughter Tarah was a Jr. World Water Skiing Champion and is now a professional wake boarder. Son Tyler received a baseball scholarship to Florida Southern College and went on to play professionally for the Newark Bears.
David's athletic and coaching career helped establish him as a leading expert in water skiing and cycling, for which he received numerous accolades, including:
Eight time national water skiing champion
Five time national record holder in water ski jumping
Coach of the US Water Ski Team, winning the World Championships
Coached Cyndi Benzel, (spouse) currently co-holder of a national water ski slalom record
Competitor in Master level cycling winning five races in Florida
Recipient of the Award of Distinction by the Water Skiing Hall of Fame of USA Water Ski
David has been an invited presenter at national conferences to help organizations deliver his important training to coaches and parents.
These include:
USA Gymnastics National Congress
Professional Tennis Registry Coaching Symposium
US Tennis Association Coaches Symposium
US Tennis Association Tennis Teachers Conference
USA Figure Skating National Championships Peak Performance Series
Professional Skaters Association National Coaches Conference
US Youth Soccer National Coaches Conference
USA Swimming National Age Group Coaches Conference
David is dedicated to helping sports parents and coaches incorporate positivity and persistence into their communication with the young athletes who count on their encouragement and guidance. For child athletes, sports performance and personal growth is a journey that must start on the individual level, and requires persistence and direction every step of the way from the adults who interact with them.
