Ben’s athletic career began as a quarterback and pitcher at Class 5-A Louisiana High School East Ascension where he earned Academic All-American honors. He continued his athletic career in college at Louisiana Monroe as a pitcher where he was also extended the opportunity to continue his football career as a quarterback for the D-1A Warhawks. After his redshirt sophomore season, Ben transferred to LSU before moving on to the professional ranks as a pitcher via the San Diego Padres organization. Additionally, Ben was a protégé of Team USA Olympic Lifting Coach Gayle Hatch.

After Ben’s playing career came to an end in 2002, he went on to significant senior management experience within the energy services sector managing large-scale infrastructure development projects in Africa and developing global markets for innovative drilling technologies. Ben founded Adagio, LLC in 2005, a private investment company focused on real estate investment and lending. Adagio now engages in a full complement of investing activities and provides consulting services to the finance world regarding real estate and energy matters. In 2010, Ben founded Adagio's nonprofit arm, Adagio Institute, Inc., the parent company of The Scholar Athlete Academy.

Ben began instructing young athletes in 1995 during the off-seasons of his college and professional athletic career and has since mentored athletes from junior high school through the professional ranks. Ben graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in physics having studied music (theory & composition / piano performance) as a second discipline.