Coach. After receiving his Masters Degree from Omaha University in 1961, he returned in 1963 as Assistant Professor of Education, Assistant Football Coach, athletic counselor and Head Wrestling Coach, the first African American to hold a head coaching job in a predominately white university in the United States. His wrestling team brought the first ever collegiate national championship to the state of Nebraska in 1970 after being twice runners up in 1968 and 1969. He was selected by both the Omaha World Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star as state college coach of the year. Add to this NAIA Wrestling Coach of the Year and Nebraska Scholastic Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame, Dr. Benning was also a member of the 1969 United States Olympic Wrestling Committee. Don is an Omaha native who enjoyed an outstanding high school athletic career.