Jennie
Benning

As a former educator who recently left the field, Jennie Benning brings a rare and powerful perspective to the world of student-athlete development. Her years inside the school system gave her an intimate understanding of how education works — and more importantly, what families often don't know about the systems designed to support their children.

As a parent to a college athlete, a high school athlete, and a child just beginning their journey, Jennie has lived every stage of this process firsthand. She knows the excitement, the confusion, the pressure, and the stakes — not from a textbook, but from her own kitchen table. Making sure every one of her own children is informed and prepared for the best fit has been a learning curve she navigated personally.

That combination — professional knowledge and lived experience — is what makes GRIT different. Being in the school system opened Jennie's eyes to how many families are navigating these decisions without the information, connections, or guidance they need. She saw the gaps firsthand, and she decided to do something about it.

Jennie strives to help the students who have been the sole reason for her passion, to coach parents through the process, and to remain readily available for every question and need that arises along the way. She leverages her deep connections within the community to bridge relationships between athletes, families, schools, and coaches — because in this game, who you know and what you know both matter.

GRIT is not just a program. It is Jennie's commitment — to every family, every athlete, and every dream that deserves a real shot at coming true.