Kansas State University Athletics
Men's Basketball
O'Donnell, Ben
Ben O'Donnell
- Title:
- Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach
- Email:
- bodonnell@kstatesports.com
- Phone:
- (785) 532-6531
Ben O’Donnell is in his fifth season as the strength and conditioning coach for the Kansas State men’s basketball team in 2020-21.
In his first four seasons at K-State, O’Donnell has helped build the foundation for a Wildcat program that has won 82 games and advanced to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (2017, 2018, 2019). His strength and conditioning program has been a key component for a Wildcat team that posted consecutive 25-win campaigns for the first time in school history (2017-18 and 2018-19) and included an Elite Eight appearance for the first time in eight seasons in 2017-18 and a second Big 12 regular-season title in 2018-19.
O’Donnell has also assisted in the development of eight All-Big 12 selections during his time at K-State, including Barry Brown, Jr., and Dean Wade, who became the first Wildcat tandem to be named to the All-Big 12 First Team in the same season in 2018-19. Brown and Wade were joined on the All-Big 12 team by Xavier Sneed and Kamau Stokes in 2018-19 as honorable mention selections, while Sneed repeated the honor in 2019-20.
A former point guard at Florida State and UCF, O’Donnell came to K-State in June 2016 after spending five seasons at his alma mater in Orlando, where he coordinated the strength and conditioning program for men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, men’s and women soccer, women’s tennis and men’s golf. Overall, he spent six years at UCF, starting as an intern (2010-11) then as a graduate assistant (2011-13) before becoming a full-time staff member in 2013.
O’Donnell played one season at Florida State (2007-08) for head coach Leonard Hamilton before transferring to UCF in 2008, where he played alongside current K-State director of basketball operations Drew Speraw for one season (2009-10), under Drew’s father, Kirk.
A native of Largo, Florida, O’Donnell earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from UCF in 2011 before receiving a Master’s degree in physical education from South Florida in 2013. He also holds USA Weightlifting, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (CSCS) and Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA) accreditation.
O’Donnell and his wife, Kristin, have two sons, Tyson and Owen.
In his first four seasons at K-State, O’Donnell has helped build the foundation for a Wildcat program that has won 82 games and advanced to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (2017, 2018, 2019). His strength and conditioning program has been a key component for a Wildcat team that posted consecutive 25-win campaigns for the first time in school history (2017-18 and 2018-19) and included an Elite Eight appearance for the first time in eight seasons in 2017-18 and a second Big 12 regular-season title in 2018-19.
O’Donnell has also assisted in the development of eight All-Big 12 selections during his time at K-State, including Barry Brown, Jr., and Dean Wade, who became the first Wildcat tandem to be named to the All-Big 12 First Team in the same season in 2018-19. Brown and Wade were joined on the All-Big 12 team by Xavier Sneed and Kamau Stokes in 2018-19 as honorable mention selections, while Sneed repeated the honor in 2019-20.
A former point guard at Florida State and UCF, O’Donnell came to K-State in June 2016 after spending five seasons at his alma mater in Orlando, where he coordinated the strength and conditioning program for men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, men’s and women soccer, women’s tennis and men’s golf. Overall, he spent six years at UCF, starting as an intern (2010-11) then as a graduate assistant (2011-13) before becoming a full-time staff member in 2013.
O’Donnell played one season at Florida State (2007-08) for head coach Leonard Hamilton before transferring to UCF in 2008, where he played alongside current K-State director of basketball operations Drew Speraw for one season (2009-10), under Drew’s father, Kirk.
A native of Largo, Florida, O’Donnell earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from UCF in 2011 before receiving a Master’s degree in physical education from South Florida in 2013. He also holds USA Weightlifting, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (CSCS) and Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA) accreditation.
O’Donnell and his wife, Kristin, have two sons, Tyson and Owen.
K-State MBB | Hang With Tang On The Go (Season 4, Episode 1)
Friday, September 05
K-State MBB | Coach Driscoll Mic'd Up
Friday, August 08
K-State MBB | Vet Week 2025
Monday, August 04
K-State MBB | Weight Room Renovations
Thursday, July 24
