Testimonials

"Fred Benjamin was instrumental in navigating my recruiting and reclassification process. In a span of two weeks he got internal academic approval for early graduation and got the Harvard admissions department to consider my application. Fred's no nonsense approach delivers results and has allowed me to live my dream of playing division 1 basketball at Harvard University."

- Patrick Steeves,  Harvard '16

"Fred Benjamin, or Coach Benjamin- as he is and will forever be called by the thousands of endearing student athletes that learned from, played for, and believed in him- is perhaps the single most inspirational person I've had the privilege of working with. I met Coach Benjamin my senior year of high school and he has remained a perpetual mentor throughout my college and professional career. Benjamin leads with a conviction in himself and others around him that makes success an expectation no matter what the circumstance. Yet despite being capable of simplifying the most complex education, personal and business problems, he still manages to maintain a humility of character and mind. He is a must have for any mission critical team."

- Lucas Loeffler, CEO of QuickFrame

Amherst College, Wharton- MBA

"Fred Benjamin has played an influential role in my life. He is a mentor and confidant. Since 7th grade, his guidance and encouragement put me on an Ivy League track. Coming from a public school, I was not aware of the steps necessary to attend an Ivy League school. Fred’s step by step guidance allowed me to attend the University of Pennsylvania and become the first person ever from my school district to enroll at an Ivy."

- Harrison Gaines,  CEO/Founder of SLASH Sports

"Fred Benjamin is a knowledgeable and supportive mentor who challenges his students to go beyond their limitations. He has strong leadership skills and has the unique ability of promoting both the interests of the team and the individual growth of its constituents." 

- Dylan Sinnicksen,  Middlebury College '15  and University of Vermont Graduate School '17

"Dedicated, passionate, and relentless are the three words I would use to describe Fred Benjamin. As a student athlete my first two years I often neglected the “student” because the athlete was what I knew best as a first generation student. With Fred’s guidance and full support he not only helped me get through my four years as an undergrad, but he also helped me get into grad school here at UNLV.  Fred is amazing and his tactics are very similar to Kotter’s 8 steps to success. Very thought out, organized and a guaranteed for success."

 -  Hashima Carothers, Graduate Assistant-Academic Success Coach at UNLV

"Fred Benjamin was extremely helpful with helping me find a graduate program that fit my interest. Not only did he bridge my relationship with the program staff, he was also equip to answer all of my questions and assist me through the application process. Because of Fred, I was able to not only continue my basketball career, but also my education. "

- Alicia Scafidi, University of San Francisco '14

“Fred Benjamin not only saw possibility for me, but he believed me into that reality. Through a rare combination of fired passion and genuine care, Fred molded me to see opportunity in myself and he is a large reason for where I’ve been, who I am and where I will go. Much love.”

- Reid Wittman, Yale ‘09 

"Fred Benjamin was the male role model that I never had throughout my life, In our short time together at USF, we gained a very strong relationship. We would often disagree but what family doesn't? I can Honestly say that because of Fred, I'm in the position now to be playing professionally in Germany. He wasnt just my academic advisor at USF, he is also a father figure and forever brother of mine!"

- Kruize Pinkins, University of San Francisco

"I’ve known Fred Benjamin since I was just a young faculty kid on a boarding school campus and even then I figured out pretty quickly that he is a special person and remarkably committed advisor. He has a way of making you understand just how much he cares and how invested he is in you. Fred eventually served as a mentor to me throughout my college recruiting process, helping me traverse a very complicated decision which eventually saw me land as a Division 1 soccer player at Yale. Fred continues to offer invaluable support to me in my college years, not just in sport but in all things student-life."

- Nicky Downs, Yale '19

"What a blessing it truly is to have met such an AMAZING man as Fred Benjamin! No amount of words could ever describe the impact that he has had in my life both personally and academically. Before Fred became my academic support coach I had little to no confidence in myself academically. After just the first couple of times of meeting him, my self confidence grew tremendously. It felt amazing to have such an inspirational man who I look up to tell me over and over how incredibly bright and intelligent I was. If it were not for Fred, I don’t believe that I would’ve gotten through my last year of undergrad. Thankfully I had him rooting for me along my entire journey and now I’ll be graduating with a master’s degree this spring. Fred has been a rock during my most difficult times in life, a shoulder to cry on, an amazing mentor and father figure to me. I truly hope that my future children will have the opportunity to encounter someone similar to Fred and I pray that whoever that person may be will leave a lasting imprint on their hearts as Fred as has done to mine."

- Chelsey Jacox, University of San Francisco '15,  M.S.W  The University of Missouri - St. Louis '18

"Fred Benjamin is an extraordinary man. A scholar, a sportsman and a humanitarian. His approach I consider the epitome of deep-caring: his work with student athletes seeks to address the whole person, nurturing the inner flame of learning in youths compelled to excel in sport in a way that they become well rounded, socially and intellectually adept adults, able to live their lives beyond the few short years that the glory of sport provides."

- Leo Podlashuc, PhD Associate Professor UC Berkley / USF. 

Fred Benjamin retired from playing professional basketball, but his goal is to retire a stereotype.  Too many people still view Black athletes as physically talented but not smart.  Fred Benjamin is beyond smart, but his size and brilliance makes it challenging for a Black man like him to overcome the most dangerous stereotype.  To be Black, brilliant, and physically talented should not be a nightmare or a triple threat but triple gift.  Now is the time to to pursue people like Fred for leadership roles.  

- Tommy Lee Woon,  former Director of Diversity and First-Generation at Stanford University

"Fred Benjamin is a thoughtful person who genuinely cares about student athletes. His life has given him many experiences that he is willing to share with others to help fight against injustices in the education and athletic systems. Fred will give you advice from his heart and soul. He is the true definition of the “Student Advocate”!"

- Ken Tobey father of  Mike Tobey University of Virginia '16 D League, NBA, Europe & Liz Tobey University of Delaware

"While working with Fred Benjamin at the University of San Francisco, I witnessed first-hand how dedicated he is to helping students succeed academically while building principles and practices that will guide them throughout their lives. He demands the best of students, but is careful to provide them with the tools they need to achieve more than they believed possible. He does this by translating information into terms that students relate to and understand, evidencing his excellent communication skills as well as his impressive background in education.  What sets Fred Benjamin apart, though, is his unwavering commitment to a form of education grounded in the pursuit of social justice for all. Students who work with him are better and do better because they are empowered in the way he invites them into a world of ideas that can be used to create positive social change and promote personal success."

- Sarah Burgess, Associate Professor in Communication Studies, Gender and Sexualities Studies, and Critical Diversity Studies

"Mr. Benjamin, through his innovative ideas, personal experiences and ability to identify strengths, potential problems and difficulties, helped my son view himself holistically as intelligent, thoughtful, as well as a great athlete. Mr. Benjamin helped him navigate this by example and principle.  His methods and strategies as well as his caring, discipline and tough love when necessary helped my son achieve greater than he thought possible while learning to believe in himself.  As parents, he also helped us immeasurably to view the academic vs. athletic landscape to help all of us to make the best choices for the future as possible. I would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation for Mr. Benjamin. We would strongly recommend him for his future endeavors." 

- Brenda Colbert RN, Cardiovascular Perfusionist, MAM

"I've been very fortunate to work with some very good academic coordinators over my ten years of coaching college basketball.  However, no one cared more, worked harder and spent more time counseling my student-athletes to not only be successful students, but more importantly about how to be a successful man in our world today.  Fred was all about helping our young men be all that they could be.  I was very fortunate to get to work with him, but no one missed him more than the young men that got to work with him each day."

 - Rex Walters,  Head Men's Basketball Coach of University of San Francisco, Grand Rapids Drive, and Assistant Coach of the Detroit Pistons 

"Fred displays a level of motivation, integrity, and seriousness of purpose that is much needed in the development of young men and women which extends beyond sports. And this is due to two reasons: the importance of his operational framework in how to support students in their academic and athletic endeavors , and his capacity to achieve results."

-  Jay Wright, Head Men's Basketball Coach at Villanova

"Fred  is a person that has the ability to understand the expectations of the athletic responsibilities required while at the same time being able to inject a penchant for intellectual curiosity and the value of academic standards. Fred looks at the student’s potential and capabilities as a opposed to the deficiencies." 

- Tommy Amaker, Head Men's Basketball Coach at Harvard University

“I have known Fred for a dozen years and admire his ability to communicate and build relationships. He continually works to achieve the best possible outcomes.”

 - Jerod Hasse, Head Men's Basketball Coach Stanford University