Carl K. "Benny" Benhase

1929 - 2018

Carl K. Benhase

Loveland - Carl Kenneth "Benny" Benhase was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 5, 1929, to Henry Francis Benhase and Cora Willish Benhase. Carl grew up in Deer Park on Glendale Avenue with his two older brothers, Henry Jr., and Leroy. He graduated from Deer Park High School in 1947 as a four-sport letterman in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He attended Miami University, where he played football for Coach Woody Hayes, but more importantly, that is where he met the love of his life, Annaree Potter of Mariemont. He graduated in 1951 and they were married at the Mariemont Community Church on April 12, 1952, just before he was deployed to Korea. After the war, he began his teaching and coaching career, first in Panama City, Florida and then in Marion, Virginia, where their first child, Carla Bernice, was born. Soon after, they moved to Berne Union, Ohio where their second child, Scott Anson, was born. His coaching career led him then to Circleville, Ohio; Hanover College, Indiana; and then to Portsmouth, Ohio. In 1967, his book, Ohio High School Football was published and he became a regular leader at coach's clinics teaching his innovative approaches to coaching football, particularly the "no-huddle offense," which he first developed in the late 1960s. This "hurry up" offense required his players to be in peak physical condition. One of his players who survived the jungles of Vietnam during the war later said that he was able to do so only because "it was nothing compared to Coach Benhase's preseason August practices." Upon retirement, he and Annaree enjoyed 20 years sharing their time between Winter Haven, Florida and Loveland. When health concerns necessitated, he and Annaree moved back permanently to Loveland in 2010. Annaree died in June of 2016. Carl is survived by a daughter, Carla Dedden of Loveland, Ohio; a son, Scott Benhase of Savannah, Georgia, and his wife Kelly; and, five grandchildren (and two great-grandchildren): Eric Dedden of Milford, his wife, Erin, and their daughter, Isabelle, and son, Roman; John Benhase of Atlanta, Georgia and his wife, Sarah; Rebekah Dedden of Loveland, Ohio; Charles Benhase of Washington, DC; and, Mary Grace Benhase, also of Washington, DC. A memorial service will be held at Loveland Presbyterian Church (360 Robin Ave, Loveland, Ohio, 45140) on Monday, February 12 at 7 p.m. The private burial will be the next day at Hopewell Cemetery in Montgomery. The family asks that all memorial gifts be made to Loveland Presbyterian Church. www.tuftsschildmeyer.com