Edens attended Hoover High School, where he played football and boxed. Graduating from Hoover in 1944, he then attended San Diego State University where he played football. He graduated from SDSU in 1948 and began a career at Point Loma High School as a student teacher, while also working at the Kona Kai Club as the activities director and swim instructor.
The football stadium at Point Loma High School is named in his honor. Edens became head coach of the Pointers in 1955, and continued in that role though generations of students until his retirement in 1998. He would finish his career with a record of 241–168–16, a sectional record for the most wins by a coach a single school, and second on the sectional all-time list.
After 10 years of retirement, Edens succumbed to a heart attack in early February, 2008.
Obituaries called him "a legend", and his memorial service, held at the Point Loma High athletic field, filled the stadium that bears his name to capacity. Following his death, Point Loma High School established the Bennie Edens Scholarship Fund in his honor.
Edens coached many athletes who went on to professional sporting careers, including: Jeff Staggs (linebacker for the Street Louis Cardinals and San Diego Chargers in the 1960s) Greg Slough (All-American linebacker at University of Southern California. Played for New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders in the 1970s) Eric Allen (cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders in the 1980s and 1990s) J. J. Stokes (wide receiver for the San Francisco 49"ers in the 1990s) Louisiana"Roi Glover (defensive tackle for the Street Louis Rams, 49"ers, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints) David Wells (pitcher for the New York Yankees during the 1990s and 2000s) San Diego Union/Tribune (1997). Coach Edens Steps Down San Diego Union (1990).
Big games keep football fun for Coach Edens San Diego Union (1987).
Coach Edens: Winning ways aren"t limited to football field The Tribune (1987). Point Loma still garden of Edens 33 years later Los Angeles Times (1985).
Bennie Edens: Point Loma Coach Has Changed With the Times for 36 Years.
1966 San Diego County High School Football Coach of the Year 1981 California Athletic Director of the Year 1983 All-San Diego County Football Coach of the Year and Southern Section Coach of the Year. January 11, 1988 was proclaimed Bennie Edens Day by the city of San Diego 1992 California High School Coach of the Year 2002 NFL High School Coach of the Year.
