Pictured Is: The GCU Bowling Program. Coach Canfield is in the back row, and the last person standing on the far right. Photo Courtesy of GCU.
Editors Note: Ever since Ben Canfield arrived on the GCU campus 10 years ago. He has taken over a program that no one has ever heard of in 2015. Into one that has been getting noticed by the rest of the collegiate bowling community in recent years. He attributes this to putting in a lot of hard work along the way, and it didn't hurt to have a bit of good luck either.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg
Managing Editor - thetenpinexpress.com
Director Mesa Metro Association
Phoenix , AZ. - - - Grand Canyon University (GCU), Head Bowling Coach Ben Canfield, has always had a simple but effective philosophy when it comes to securing opportunities in the game of bowling. And that philosophy is, it's about being at the right place at the right time.
It's hard to believe, but when GCU starts its Collegiate Club Bowling season later this fall. It will mark his 10th season as the leader of the Lopes' men's and women's bowling programs. And during his tenure he has turned the program into one that nobody really heard of. Into one that has been ranked nationally on a regular basis in recent years.
"I will be entering my 10th year as head coach at GCU this Fall. It has been way more than I expected from the start in 2015. We’ve accomplished so much, and I owe a lot to the student-athletes and Club Sports staff that have helped me along the way," he said, of his tenure at GCU thus far. "It was an adjustment. There were a lot of unknowns, but my experience as captain at ASU for two seasons helped me understand the ins and outs of planning a collegiate season. I would say I started to feel comfortable at the end of my second season. We won a couple of tournaments and had a solid showing at ITC Sectionals!"
His accomplishments as a bowler at ASU include four National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association Academic All-American selections. A 2014-2015 Collegiate Club All-American second-team honoree nod and 2013-2014 Arizona Junior Bowlers Tour (JBT) Bowler of the Year. He also claimed 23 JBT titles and placed fourth in all-events at the USBC Open Championship in 2015. His teammates at ASU included: Jakob Butturff, Andrew Cain, and Michael Haugen Jr. They are all members of the PBA, and have won at least one regional and one national PBA title.
"My junior and senior years were pretty comparable from a statistical standpoint, but I was named a 2nd Team CTBCA All-American my senior year, so that sets it apart slightly. I had different relationships with each of those individuals. Haugen was an assistant coach for most of my time at ASU. He was tough on me and pushed us at practice while competing with the team on a weekly basis," he said, of his own collegiate bowling career. "I always enjoy running into him nowadays. I bowled with Jakob for one year at ASU. We pushed each other that year as we bowled 100 games for average and only finished 14 pins apart at the end of the year. We also traveled and competed together as he got his footing on tour, which led to some great memories. Andrew Cain was a great mentor to me as I bowled at the regional level and dabbled at larger events, such as the World Series of Bowling. He is very knowledgeable in all aspects of life and I thoroughly enjoyed the time we got to spend together on and off the lanes. My collegiate bowling experience at Arizona State set the foundation for myself as a bowler and eventually as a coach. Jordan (Nassberg ASU's Head Coach), played a huge role in the progression of my knowledge of the sport at all levels."
So, when he arrived on the GCU campus to begin his coaching career. He wasn't sure how he would be looked at by his student athletes. Looked at as a father figure, or looked at as a big brother.
"That’s a great question. I think my role has changed as the years go on. The age gap between myself and the student-athletes is much more noticeable now. I’d say probably closer to a big brother figure currently," he said, of what it was like being the coach, when he first arrived on the GCU campus. "We have a great culture here within our team at GCU, and I lean on our student-leaders and my colleagues in the Club Sports Offices to handle the difficult situations that arise each year. It’s awesome!, when the kids call me coach. That’s why I do what I do and I am very grateful for the opportunity to impact their lives on and off the lanes."
When he arrived at GCU, they had a mixed Men’s/Women’s team. The first goal his director gave him, was to start a separate Women’s team. He didn't have to look too far to find the talent he needed to start the Women's program. Correen Acuff and Emily Ornelas where his first two recruits. Both still compete at a very high level in women's bowling in Arizona.
"Correen and Emily were instrumental in getting that team off the ground and I am very thankful for their respective commitments to the team over the years!," he said, of his first two recruits. "That first 300 (in program history) was super cool. (It was bowled in the Rebel Classic at the Orleans in Las Vegas in 2017). Correen was and still is a friend of mine, so seeing her experience the joy of that at the collegiate levels was awesome to witness."
Acuff has also had success on the national level as well. At the 2023 USBC Queens, she finished fourth. In the stepladder finals, she defeated Dasha Kovalova 215-190, in the opening match. Then lost to Carlene Beyer 202-170.
"Her performance at the 2023 Queens was even more impressive and we are proud of the connection she has to the Lopes Bowling program," the coach said, of her performance on the national stage. "The tournament was held in May of 2023 at Sam’s Town in Las Vegas, NV."
Grand Canyon College was chartered on August 1,1949, with 16 faculty and approximately 100 students in Prescott, Arizona. In 1951, the college relocated to a 90-acre tract in West Phoenix and was accredited in 1968 by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. Established as a Baptist-affiliated institution with an emphasis on religious studies, the school initially offered bachelor’s programs in education. Programs expanded to include the sciences, nursing, business, music and fine arts. It was during this time when the college started to develop a reputation for producing effective teachers, nurses and healthcare professionals in the Southwest.
"The Women’s team won their first tournament at the Rebel Invitational in January of 2017. It was the same event that Correen shot a 300 game at. That win gave the team a lot of vindication that all their hard work had paid off," he said, of his program earning credibility nationwide. "While the Men’s team won their first tournament at the Montclair Open in November of 2016. We took down two very successful programs, San Jose State and Arizona State, which made the win even sweeter. That win was a catalyst for our team as we strived to move up quickly through the collegiate ranks."
Since their initial tournament victories, the men's and women's programs have accomplished the following:
At the 11th Annual Devil's Duel (2022). GCUs' anchor bowler struck out in the 10th frame of the final game, to win the event by 1 pin. In 2023, the women's team took 3rd place at the Collegiate Club National Championships. The men's team in 2024, took 3rd place at the Collegiate Club National Championships. The men's team in 2024, also took 2nd place at the Fort Worth ITC Sectional Qualifier. It secured their second ITC Nationals appearance in program history.
Because of the success GCU has had this past season, Coach Canfield. Was also named Collegiate Club Coach of The Year.
"It was incredibly humbling to be honored in that manner by my peers," he said, of being named Coach of The Year. "It’s hard to put into words what it means to receive an award, the NCBCA Coach of the Year. That is the one named after Gordon Vadakin with Gordon Vadakin’s (the best coach in collegiate bowling’s history)name on it.The Second Coach of the Year Award I won, was The Randy Widger CTBCA Coach of the Year."
The success GCU has had on the lanes the last couple of years, has also helped with its own recruiting process.
"Definitely. Our name is out there as a top program in collegiate bowling. We hope to continue to draw great talent and great students to GCU each year," the coach says, of recruiting talent due to recent program successes. "The entire program competed in six tournaments this year. That included two trips to Las Vegas and our home events at Glenfair Lanes. I thoroughly enjoying getting to watch our 30+ students compete at the same time."
GCUs' club dues range from $425-$1200 each year, depending on what team a student earns a spot in. GCU has received a ton of support from friends and family each year, which has led to very successful fundraising endeavors over the past few seasons. It has an endorsement deal with a bowling ball manufacturer, that helps out in product only.
Each collegiate coach has a goal of where they want their program to be within a certain time frame. Coach Canfield also has goals that he wants to achieve.
"I would like us to remain at the same level as we are now. We've consistently been the best team in the West Coast and can contend with the top teams in the nation" he said, of where he wants his team to be in five years. "My goal is for us to compete for a national championship each year and I think we have the bowlers and structure to do so."
Lopes Up!
July 8, 2024