Andy Benesh: From a 9–5 Job to the Olympic Games

Andy Benesh: From a 9–5 Job to the Olympic Games

From Beach Secrets with Dj Klasnic by Dj Klasnic

December 18, 2025 · 48 min · Episode 6

About this episode

Andy Benesh shares his journey from a 9–5 job to becoming an Olympic beach volleyball athlete.

In this episode of Beach Secrets, DJ Klasnic welcomes Olympian Andy Benesh — one of the most dominant blockers in U.S. beach volleyball and half of the No. 1 ranked American team. Andy shares his unconventional path from a successful professional indoor volleyball career to stepping away from the sport, working a 9–5 job, and ultimately making the bold decision to bet on himself. That leap of faith led him back to the sand, where he rose to become one of the best blockers in the country, a consistent AVP contender, and an Olympic Games qualifier alongside Miles Partain — another former guest of the podcast. In this powerful conversation, Andy breaks down the mindset required to start over, the discipline behind elite blocking, and what separates good teams from great ones on the AVP and World Tour. He also opens up about life off the court, including marrying fellow USA professional Deahna Kraft, navigating two elite careers, and finding balance while chasing Olympic-level performance. This episode delivers high-level insight, honesty, and inspiration for athletes, competitors, and anyone willing to take a calculated risk on themselves. 🎧 Topics include: Transitioning from pro…

People in this episode

Host: DJ Klasnic

Guest: Andy Benesh

Topics covered

  • Transitioning to beach volleyball
  • Overcoming career changes
  • Mindset of elite athletes
  • Olympic qualification
  • Balancing personal and professional life

Keywords

  • beach volleyball
  • Olympic Games
  • AVP
  • elite blocking
  • career transition
  • mindset
  • athlete balance

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: AVP, Olympic Games, USA

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