By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Liberty High Football Coach David Benson saw his three-year tenure end Monday when he was relieved of his duties by Principal Robert Studly.

Benson has been on the Chargers football staff since the school’s inception in 2007. He was the defensive line coach for Doug Nichols and became the head coach in 2010 when Nichols moved to Osceola.

Benson declined to go into details about the reasons he was given by Studly for his dismissal.

“I’m not going to waste energy rehashing it. I’d just like to say that I appreciate the opportunity I was given to coach some fine young men and I wish them nothing but success in the future,” he said.

Studly said Monday afternoon that he felt the program needed to change.

“I’ve got nothing but nice things to say about David Benson and his family, I just thought at this time we needed to go in a different direction,” Studly said.

Studly said the team’s record was not the sole reason for the change, but he said his decision was not based on Benson’s performance in the classroom.

“There are always other factors in these decisions,” he said. “David is welcome to stay at Liberty High as a math instructor for the rest of this year, and for next year, if he would like.”

The Chargers were 3-7 last season but won their last two games against Celebration and Poinciana. During Benson’s three-year tenure, Liberty was 12-18.

“I know this season didn’t turn out the way we had hoped,” Benson said. “The really disappointing thing is that next year’s seniors would have been the first group I had going through as head coach, so I’m really disappointed for them.”

Benson’s offense was hampered the past two years when excellent sophomore quarterbacks he developed transferred.First, Greg Hankerson left after the 2010 season, then Terrell Bonds after the 2011 season. Both went to South Florida schools and were preseason all-state selections at quarterback.

“You’re thinking that with Greg here for two more years that you can upgrade the schedule, and I think that caught up with us, especially  this year after Terrell left,” Benson said.

The Chargers played five playoff teams during the regular season.

Benson relied on a true freshman, Isaiah Wilson, to play quarterback this season.

“I have nothing but good things to say about my players. They played hard every game, they gave their best effort, and I’m proud of them,” Benson said.

Benson said he probably would step down as the school’s weightlifting coach. He said that he would consider his options but that he plans to stay in coaching. He played at Winter Park High and graduated in 1991. He said that he has maintained contacts with many Central Florida coaches and expects to find another position in Orange County, or perhaps out of state.

Benson came to Osceola County in 1999 as an assistant to former Gateway Coach Karl Schroeder.

Benson also coached a professional arena league team, the Kissimmee Kreatures, in 2005. One of his Liberty assistant coaches, David Aubrey, played for the Kreatures.

Studly said he may name an interim football coach to keep the program running through the off-season before he forms a committee to find the next Chargers coach.

“I feel that this is a good time to make this change. It will give us an opportunity to find the right coach to take us to the next level,” he said.