By: Thomas Klemick
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg director of athletics Rahsaan Carlton has announced that former Division I standout Ben Dupree has been named the college's next women's flag football head coach.
"We're thrilled to have Coach Dupree building the foundation for our new varsity women's flag football program," said Carlton. "His energy and enthusiasm for this new collegiate sport is infectious. I have no doubt he'll provide great leadership for our student-athletes and develop a successful program."
Dupree, a star both collegiately at The Citadel and in the high school ranks at nearby Susquehanna Township, has served as an assistant football coach for a number of local high school programs in recent years, including his alma mater, Cedar Cliff and, most recently, William Penn.
At The Citadel, the versatile quarterback rewrote the program's record book to the tune of 3,913 total yards, 2,679 career rushing yards, 36 rushing touchdowns and seven 100-yard rushing games. The two-year team captain earned multiple Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors, including one after accounting for a program-record six total touchdowns against Old Dominion in 2013. After scoring a conference-high 18 touchdowns during his senior campaign, he completed his career with 36 rushing touchdowns, good enough to rank second all-time in program history. He took part in the 2013 National Bowl Game featuring the nation's 100 best non-FBS players before being named The Citadel's Offensive Player of the Year.
While at Susquehanna Township, Dupree helped lead the Indians to a school-record 12 games in 2009. The Harrisburg, Pa. native lettered three times in football, racked up more than 8,500 all-purpose yards and scored 80 total touchdowns during his high school career. For his efforts, he was named the Pennsylvania Class AAA Player of the Year to go along with all-state first team recognition. He was also a 1,000-point scorer for Susquehanna Township's boys' basketball program and helped lead the Indians to the 2009 PIAA AAA Championship Game.
Following his collegiate career, Dupree played in Japan's professional American football league - the X-League. A star for the Panasonic Impulse, he was voted to the 2015 All-X-League Team. Leading his squad to the X-League Championship that season, the Panasonic Impulse won the Rice Bowl in the Tokyo Dome in front of a crowd of more than 30,000 fans.
Dupree graduated from The Citadel with his degree in Sport Management.
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