Bennett Van Cleve

Ben Van Cleve joined the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation in March 2023 as a Development Assistant for Major Gifts. Ben’s responsibilities include the development of philanthropic major gifts to the Vaught Society, serving all 18 sports at Ole Miss. His territory includes Nashville, Central Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, and a large portion of Mississippi.

Prior to joining Ole Miss Athletics, Ben was living his dream as a member of the Ole Miss Rebels baseball team. An infielder who primarily served as a designated hitter from 2020 – 2022, Ben’s college career culminated in Omaha as he and his teammates became the first Ole Miss team to win the College World Series. Along with working to become a national champion, Ben’s commitment to his education never wavered. During his time as a student-athlete, he was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, consistently named to both the Chancellor’s Honor Roll and the SEC Academic Honor Roll, and was recognized as a Student-Athlete of the Month.

The Indianola native graduated cum laude with Phi Kappa Phi honors from the University of Mississippi in 2021, receiving his B.A. in Sport and Recreation Administration and his minor in Education. Ben comes from a long line of Rebels and is a third-generation alumnus. His late grandfather, Gene Van Cleve, was a member of the Ole Miss golf team and was the first golfer initiated into the university’s M-Club.