Ben Fentress joined the Wyoming coaching staff in July 2018 after spending two seasons as a Special Teams consultant for Montana State University. In 2018, he helped coach Cowboy place-kicker Cooper Rothe, who earned First Team All-Mountain West honors, was named the 2018 MW Special Teams Player of the Year and was one of three finalists for the prestigious Lou Groza Award, which honors the nation’s top collegiate place-kicker each year. During the 2018 season, Rothe made 16 for 17 field goals and finished first in the nation in field goal percentage at 94.1%. Fentress is involved in creating special teams scouting reports, practice plans, recruiting and specialist film review.
While at Montana State, he coached punter Jered Padmos, who was named Second Team All-Big Sky Conference. Padmos averaged 42.5 yards per punt and ranked 15th in the FCS in punting in 2016 as a freshman. In his two years at MSU, the Bobcats ranked 18th nationally in net punting in 2016 and seventh in 2017.
Fentress has worked with several NFL and CFL free-agent kickers and punters during his time coaching at pro development camps for Coach Gary Zauner of Zauner Specialist Camps. Fentress also coached high school football for eight years for Aspen and Basalt High schools in Colorado. He coached special teams, wide receivers and defensive backs for Aspen and Basalt, and while at Basalt High he coached kicker Bertilio Garcia to All-State honors for three years in a row.
Fentress started his college playing career at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee. After his first season, APSU discontinued scholarship football. Fentress then transferred to Arkansas State University and ultimately Maryville College in Tennessee. Fentress is a native of Decatur, Ala., and played his high school football for Don Woods at Hartselle High School where he was named to The Decatur Daily’s All-Area Team. Fentress holds a bachelor’s degree in outdoor recreation from Maryville College, and was named to the Dean’s list twice.