Bio

Aaron Bender, lifelong athlete and coach, begins his first season as the Head Softball Coach/Head Volleyball Coach at Vermillion in 2022. He was named the to these coaching positions and Athletic Director in May 2022 after 15 years of high school volleyball and 10 years of coaching at Gogebic Community College NJCAA Div II in Ironwood, MI.  Coach Bender began his high school coaching career in softball serving 5 years in Fall River, WI before serving 20 years as a Head Baseball coach at a few northern WI high schools.

Bender, a dual citizen, was born and raised in Medicine Hat, Alberta.  Coach Bender attended Itasca Community College and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Superior while competing in baseball at both schools. Coach Bender earned his MS in Athletic Administration and held the Athletic Director duties at Gogebic Community College for 5 years before returning to just one job as a teacher.

Coach Bender and his wife Jessie have 3 children, Dante, Brayden,and daughter Darian all pitchers in college themselves. Aaron and Jessie have had the pleasure of raising several foster children over the past few years, making their extended family quite large!

 “I am really excited to be a part of Vermillion, and the Ely, MN area.  I am looking forward to contributing to many student-athletes’ development,” said Bender. “College athletes are learning course material, taking athletics seriously and making life-long friends.  With quality leadership, athletics is a great platform for teaching young adults how to overcome adversity, resolve conflicts and deal with difficult situations.”