Michigan State University Athletics
Cross Country
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- benoitm3@msu.edu
Max Benoit is in his sixth season overall with the Michigan State coaching staff, having transitioned to a full-time assistant distance coach in August 2021 after spending two seasons as a graduate assistant with the program. He also serves as the men's assistance cross country coach.
In 2025, he helped the Spartan men reach the NCAA Cross Country Championships, behind Big Ten Freshman of the Year Thomas Westphal. In East Lansing in 2025, the MSU men finished second in the Big Ten Cross Country Championships. RIley Hough earned runner-up honors.
Benoit’s impact on the program dates back to his time as a student-athlete and a graduate assistant during the historic 2020–21 season, where he helped guide the women's cross country team to a fourth-place finish and the men to 17th—marking the best combined finish in Michigan State history. During that stretch, he helped mentor standout cross country All-Americans Jenna Magness, Lynsie Gram, India Johnson, and Morgan Beadlescomb. He also helped coach Beadlescomb and Magness to All-American honors in the 5,000m during both the indoor and outdoor track seasons.
In his debut season as a full-time assistant, Benoit helped direct the women's cross country team to its 14th consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships, following a Big Ten Championship victory and a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional. During that campaign, he guided graduate student Katie Osika and junior Makenna Veen to all-conference finishes at the Big Ten Championships, with Osika going on to earn All-America honors. On the track, Benoit has helped coach multiple All-American distance runners on both the women's and men's sides.
A former Spartan distance standout himself, Benoit earned Second-Team Outdoor All-America honors in the steeplechase, finishing 11th at the 2018 NCAA Championships. He held the school record in the 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 8:44.46, set in 2015 at the NCAA East Regionals.
A native of Royal Oak, Michigan, Benoit earned his bachelor's degree in communication from Michigan State in 2018 and a master's degree in public relations in 2021.
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