After serving as the Head Men's Soccer coach in 2025, Craig Bender has been retained to serve on Scott Blake's staff for the 2026 season.

Coach Bender began his coaching career in 2012 at the parks and recreation level and has worked up to running his own club Danger FC in Junction City, KS. The club has over 100 athletes and teams at all ages. He currently coaches a U17 and U18 team for Danger FC. 

He desires to create a family atmosphere on his teams and to be able to daily bring Christ into the daily culture of the program. 

Bender is a retired military service member and lives in Milford, KS with his wife, Karen and their three children.