Meet the Coaches

Here you will see all of our coaching staff and get to know a little bit about them! 

Scott Benzel
Head Football Coach

Now in his 11th year leading Westminster football, Scott Benzel has achieved remarkable success on and off the field. Since taking over in January 2014, Benzel has compiled a 69-31 overall record (.690) and a 59-25 mark in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) play. His teams have consistently excelled in November, posting an 18-6 record in late-season and postseason matchups.

Academically, Westminster has thrived under Benzel, with 127 student-athletes earning PAC Academic Honor Roll recognition, 18 named Academic All-District®, and four Academic All-America® honorees. In 2024, five players were inducted into the NFF Hampshire Honor Society.

In 2023, Westminster finished 6-4, its ninth consecutive winning season, with the defense ranking 64th nationally in scoring and total defense. Previous seasons have included PAC titles in 2020-21 and 2021, back-to-back ECAC bowl wins, and a school-record 37.45 points per game in 2019.

Before Westminster, Benzel was the associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator at Saint Francis University, where he helped transform the defense from 120th to 10th nationally in the FCS. He also spent nine years at Robert Morris University, contributing to an NEC title and FCS playoff appearance in 2010, and coached at Wittenberg University.

A Plum, Pennsylvania native, Benzel played free safety at Mercyhurst College, earning defensive MVP honors in 1996. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Mercyhurst and an MBA from Robert Morris.

Benzel and his wife, Cyndi, have two children, Baylee and Everett.

Jared Heck
Defensive Backs Coach / Recruiting Coordinator

Jared Heck is in his seventh season on the Westminster coaching staff and his second consecutive year as the defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator. Heck previously coached the Titans' defensive backs from 2015-2017 before serving as a defensive graduate assistant at Division I Ball State University in 2018.

As a student-athlete at Westminster, Heck was a four-year letterman in both football and baseball. He earned All-PAC Honorable Mention and Team MVP honors in football, leading the team as captain and ranking third in the PAC with five interceptions as a senior. In baseball, he served as captain and ranked in the PAC's top five in walks and stolen bases. Heck was also the recipient of the David B. Fawcett Award, recognizing leadership, sportsmanship, and competitiveness.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of North Hills High School, Heck earned a degree in Mathematics from Westminster. He was actively involved on campus, serving in student leadership roles including treasurer of SAAC, member of Student Government Association, and the Student Life and Athletic Council.

Jaevon Hardy
Recruiting Coordinator / Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers)

Jaevon Hardy, a North Point High School graduate from Waldorf, Maryland, joined Westminster as part of Coach Benzel's first recruiting class after being discovered at a scouting combine. Despite not playing contact football until his senior year of high school, Hardy excelled as a dual-sport athlete in football and track. An All-American in the 100m dash and a school record holder in track, Hardy was a standout both on the field and the track.

In addition to his athletic achievements, Hardy demonstrated exceptional leadership off the field. He served as Vice President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and held multiple leadership positions in the Black Student Union (BSU), including President. He also founded the Coalition of the Black Student Union Scholarship at Westminster.

After his time as a student-athlete, Hardy began working with adjudicated and autistic youth through the George Junior Republic organization. Now serving as Westminster's Recruiting Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach, Hardy brings a passion for mentoring student-athletes. His most cherished role is being a father to his 3-year-old daughter.

Connor Mundis
Assistant Coach (Tight Ends)

Connor Mundis joined the Westminster football staff in March 2024 as an offensive graduate assistant and tight ends coach. A 2023 graduate of Juniata College with a degree in sports management, Mundis was a three-time Centennial Conference Academic honoree and a standout student-athlete.

During his playing career, Mundis was a four-year letter winner and started all 30 games as an offensive lineman, competing in both the Centennial and Landmark Conferences. His coaching and internship experiences include recruiting, film analysis, scouting reports, and game-day logistics as a student intern at Juniata, as well as strength and conditioning work, where he trained athletes in weight training, recovery, and conditioning.

Mundis brings his passion for football and player development to Westminster, where he plays a key role in coaching the Titans' tight ends.

Tank Smith
Assistant Coach (Running Backs)

Tank Smith joined the Westminster football staff in July 2024 as the Running Backs Coach. A former Penn State running back (2020-2024), Smith transitioned into coaching as a Student Assistant Coach with the Nittany Lions before arriving at Westminster.

A Penn Hills High School graduate and 2018 State Champion, Smith enjoyed a decorated playing career, including winning the Rose Bowl with Penn State during the 2022-2023 season.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Smith is the nephew of Penn State Associate Head Coach Terry Smith and brings a wealth of knowledge and championship experience to the Titans' coaching staff.

David Jamieson
Assistant Coach (Defensive Line) / Director of Football Operations

David Jamieson is in his seventh season on Coach Scott Benzel's staff, working primarily with the Titans' defensive line in 2023. A summa cum laude graduate of Westminster in 2017, Jamieson earned bachelor's degrees in accounting and business administration while excelling as a three-year letter winner and two-year starter at defensive tackle. He appeared in 36 career games, recording 71 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss.

As an undergraduate, Jamieson was highly involved in campus leadership. He served in the Student Government Association (SGA) as a senator, finance chair, and treasurer, earning recognition as SGA Senator of the Year in 2015. He also held roles on the Westminster Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and as a student associate member of the College's Board of Trustees.

Jamieson's academic achievements include being named a CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District® selection and the PAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month in September 2016. He was Westminster's male honoree at the 2017 PAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Banquet.

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and manager at Baker Tilly in New Castle, Pa., Jamieson resides in Brookfield, Ohio, and continues to contribute to Westminster football through his expertise and dedication.

Pat Anderson
Assistant Coach (Outside Linebackers/Nickel)

Pat Anderson, a 1991 graduate of Wilmington Area High School, brings extensive experience to the Westminster coaching staff. A U.S. Army veteran, Anderson earned his degree from Slippery Rock University in 1998 and began his coaching career during his student teaching at Seneca Valley. He has served as a Health and Physical Education teacher at Wilmington Area since 1999 and is now in his 26th year of teaching.

Anderson's coaching experience spans Pop Warner, junior high, and high school levels, as well as two stints with Westminster football. From 2016-2018, he served as a Quality Control Coach and Special Teams Coordinator. He rejoined the Titans in 2023 as the Running Backs Coach and transitioned to Outside Linebackers/Nickel Coach in 2024.

A dedicated mentor, Anderson's deep football knowledge and commitment to player development are invaluable to the Westminster program.

Steve Boyle
Assistant Coach (Defensive Backs)

Steve Boyle joins the Westminster football staff as the Assistant Coach for Defensive Backs. With a wealth of experience, Boyle is dedicated to developing the defensive backfield and mentoring student-athletes in the defensive secondary.Outside of coaching, he is a father of three and a teacher.

Coach Chevy Dawson
Linebackers

Coach Chevy Dawson is in his fifth year with the Westminster football program, where he serves as the linebackers coach. Dawson's playing career includes numerous accolades, including multiple All-PAC selections, with honors for both offense and special teams.

In 2023, Dawson was named All-PAC Honorable Mention after totaling 21 catches for 207 yards and two touchdowns while punting for 1,989 yards with seven 50+ yard punts. He has been a key contributor on both offense and special teams throughout his career at Westminster, receiving All-ECAC honors and All-PAC First and Second Team selections.

Prior to Westminster, Dawson was a four-year member of Centennial's football program, where he earned the Most Outstanding Teammate award during his senior year.

Riley Lewis
Assistant Recruiting Coordinator

Riley Lewis has been a valuable member of the Westminster football program for four years. A May graduate, Lewis earned dual bachelor's degrees in Sports Management and Sports Broadcasting/Communications, along with numerous academic accolades, including the PAC Spring Academic Honor Roll (2022-23) and multiple Dean's List honors.

A Pennsylvania State Research Award recipient, Lewis has presented at prestigious conferences, including the Sport Leadership Summit (Lynchburg, VA), Alliance for Sport Business Conference (Columbus, OH), and the Sport Research Institute (Columbia, SC) about Women in Football.

In addition to his academic and athletic contributions, Lewis was a 3-year softball player at Westminster and brings expertise in photography, videography, and graphic design, further enriching the program with his creative talents.