Former UNC golf coach guilty of inappropriately touching female golfer

Published on October 08, 2025

GREELEY, Colo. (Weld County D.A.) – A Weld County jury returned a guilty verdict in a case involving a former, well-known golf coach from the University of Northern Colorado.

Last week, 47-year-old Benjamin Portie was convicted of one count of unlawful sexual contact for a case stemming from 2023.

On November 24, 2023, during a private lesson with a student and female golfer from University of Colorado, Portie engaged in inappropriate physical contact with the victim.

According to the victim, the defendant placed himself behind the victim during a drill, pressed his body into her, and during the drill, touched her vagina multiple times.

“I meant what I said in my closing argument, this was a chance to say, ‘enough is enough, we don’t tolerate that type of behavior in Weld County, and we hold people accountable for unlawful sexual contact’” Deputy District Attorney Erin Burhoe said.

Portie came to UNC as the head coach for the women’s golf team in the beginning of the 2017-‘18 season. He resigned from the program in 2021. He was not employed by UNC at the time of the incident.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 12 at 3PM in Division 5.

In addition to Deputy District Attorney Erin Burhoe, Deputy District Attorney Christopher Binger also prosecuted this case.