| Revision as of 20:03, 15 January 2025 editMwinog2777 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers15,886 edits ←Created page with '{{short description|American college sports administrator}} {{Infobox college coach | name = David Benedict | image = | alt = | caption = | current_title = Athletic director | current_team = UConn | current_conference = Big East | birth_date = | birth_place = Tempe, Arizona, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = Southern Utah University | admin_years1 = 1996–2006 | admin_t...'Tag: Disambiguation links added | Latest revision as of 04:51, 17 January 2025 edit undoMwinog2777 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers15,886 edits added Category:University of Minnesota people using HotCat | ||
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| | admin_team4 = ] (deputy AD) | | admin_team4 = ] (deputy AD) | ||
| | admin_years5 = 2014-2016 | | admin_years5 = 2014-2016 | ||
| | admin_team5 = ] (COO of athletic department) | | admin_team5 = ] (] of athletic department) | ||
| | admin_years6 = 2016-present | | admin_years6 = 2016-present | ||
| | admin_team6 = ] |
| admin_team6 = ] | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| '''David Benedict''' is the athletic director at the ]. Under his aegis, UConn won consecutive NCAA basketball championships in 2023 and 2024. | '''David Benedict''' is the athletic director at the ]. Under his aegis, UConn won consecutive ] in ] and ]. | ||
| ==Early life and education== | ==Early life and education== | ||
| Benedict is a native of ].<ref name |
Benedict is a native of ].<ref name=":"a"">{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Logan |title=UConn AD returns to Phoenix area, where he once worked for Arizona State |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/2024/04/04/uconn-ad-returns-home-to-the-phoenix-area-for-final-four-week/73198820007/ |access-date=January 8, 2025 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
| He had his start in |
He had his start in sports as a ball boy for ] football team, where his father coached. After high school he played center and linebacker at ], after his father had left the program.<ref name = :"HC"/> A 1995 graduate of Southern Utah University,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Benedict at Hartford Rotary |url=https://portal.clubrunner.ca/6669/stories/david-benedict-uconn-athletic-director-at-hartford-rotary}}</ref> he played linebacker on the football team.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cluff |first=Jeremy |title=Arizona State fans push Michael Crow to hire UConn's David Benedict as athletic director |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2024/04/10/arizona-state-fans-hire-uconn-david-benedict-athletic-director/73278644007/#:~:text=He%20played%20football%20at%20Southern,and%20deputy%20AD%20at%20Minnesota. |access-date=January 8, 2025 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}</ref> He graduated with a degree in physical education,<ref name = :"VCU"/> and obtained a master's degree in ] from ] in 1996, where was a ] football coach.<ref name=":"HC"">{{Cite web |title=Living His Sports Dream - Hartford Courant |url=https://digitaledition.courant.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=f1cee99e-85b5-45e1-b383-9ab52e7440f1 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |website=digitaledition.courant.com}}</ref> | ||
| ==Sports management career== | ==Sports management career== | ||
| Benedict got his start in sports management in 1996 at Arizona State University. He was initially hired for only a single task, organizing the event dedicating and naming the football field for former coach ]. He impressed a top administrator and was offered a position.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Living His Sports Dream - Hartford Courant |url=https://digitaledition.courant.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=f1cee99e-85b5-45e1-b383-9ab52e7440f1 |access-date= |
Benedict got his start in sports management in 1996 at Arizona State University. He was initially hired for only a single task, organizing the event dedicating and naming the football field for former coach ]. He impressed a top administrator and was offered a position.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Living His Sports Dream - Hartford Courant |url=https://digitaledition.courant.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=f1cee99e-85b5-45e1-b383-9ab52e7440f1 |access-date=January 14, 2025 |website=digitaledition.courant.com}}</ref> He describes his first role there as a "]...at the very bottom of the ranks."<ref name = :"a"/> He was there until 2006, having advanced to being associate director of development and executive director of the fundraising Sun Angels Foundation. He left ASU to become assistant ] at Long Beach State; this was followed by a short detour into healthcare at Scottsdale Health Foundation. He returned to sports management in 2010 as associate AD at ], overseeing fundraising and "development operations." In 2012 he became interim AD,<ref name=":"VCU"">{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2012 |title=David Benedict named interim AD at VCU |url=https://www.wtvr.com/2012/05/01/david-benedict-named-interim-ad-at-vcu#google_vignette |access-date=January 14, 2025 |website=CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR |language=en}}</ref> leading the school's transition from the ] to the ].<ref name = :"com">{{Cite web |title=David Benedict |url=https://lead1association.com/people/david-benedict/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Lead1 Association |language=en-US}}</ref> This was followed by stints of two years each at Auburn University, where he was COO of the athletics department, and University of Minnesota.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 29, 2016 |title=David Benedict Named Director Of Athletics |url=https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2016/2/29/David_Benedict_Named_Director_Of_Athletics.aspx |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=University of Connecticuy Athletics |language=en}}</ref> At Auburn, he was closely involved in interviewing and then hiring ] as basketball coach.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-15 |title=Auburn's Bruce Pearl spent 3-year exile from college hoops working at a grocery distributor – 'I wasn’t sure I’d ever coach again' |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/auburns-bruce-pearl-spent-3-year-exile-from-college-hoops-working-at-a-grocery-distributor-i-wasnt-sure-id-ever-coach-again-215703903.html |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuttler |first=Hillel |title=Bruce Pearl sees God’s hand in coaching Auburn basketball |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/bruce-pearl-sees-gods-hand-in-coaching-auburn-basketball/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
| ===AD at UConn=== | ===AD at UConn=== | ||
| In 2016 he was appointed AD at UConn and his time there has been seen as successful:<ref name = az/> | In 2016 he was appointed AD at UConn and his time there has been seen as successful:<ref name = az/> | ||
| *The men's basketball team |
*The ] won back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2004.<ref name="az">{{Cite web |last=Pricco |first=Brendon |date=September 4, 2024 |title=Potential ASU AD candidate is currently in The Valley |url=https://sundevildaily.com/potential-asu-ad-candidate-is-currently-in-the-valley/?form=MG0AV3 |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=Sun Devil Daily |language=en-US}}</ref> Major moves by Benedict helped revitalize the "semi-dormant"<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2024 |title=UConn athletics relishing rebound amid basketball success, facility upgrades |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/04/05/dave-benedict-uconn-final-four |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com |language=en}}</ref> basketball program; these included hiring ] as coach in 2018 and orchestrating a complicated<ref name = :"com"/> return to the ] in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 15, 2020 |title=UConn's Return To The Big East Already Having A Major Impact On The Program |url=https://www.si.com/college/tmg/tmg-maven/uconn-basketball-back-in-big-east?form=MG0AV3 |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=TMG Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
| *] has maintained national prominence,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cilley |first=Hayden |date=2024 |
*] has maintained national prominence,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cilley |first=Hayden |date=April 6, 2024 |title=UConn AD David Benedict embraces hectic schedules for Final Fours |url=https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2024/04/06/connecticut-david-benedict-athletic-director/?form=MG0AV3 |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=Cronkite News |language=en-US}}</ref> and in 2024 he extended coach ]'s contract through 2029 providing stability for the program.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weekly |first=UConn WBB |title=Geno Auriemma signs five-year contract extension |url=https://www.uconnwbbweekly.com/p/uconn-huskies-women-s-basketball-geno-auriemma-signs-five-year-contract-extension |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=UConn WBB Weekly |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 5, 2024 |title=UConn signs Geno Auriemma to 5-year, $18.7M contract extension |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/uconn-signs-geno-auriemma-to-5-year-187m-contract-extension-001244334.html#:~:text=jason%20owens,to%20a%201,213-162%20record. |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
| *He hired ] in 2021, which revitalized the football program.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CollegeNetWorth |date= |
*He hired ] in 2021, which revitalized the football program.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CollegeNetWorth |date=August 16, 2024 |title=Jim L. Mora - UConn Huskies Contract, Net Worth, Coaching Information - CollegeNetWorth.com |url=https://www.collegenetworth.com/jim-l-mora-uconn-huskies/ |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=www.collegenetworth.com |language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
| * |
*] facilities for baseball, softball and men's and women's hockey have been built.<ref name=":"rel"">{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2024 |title=UConn athletics relishing rebound amid basketball success, facility upgrades |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/04/05/dave-benedict-uconn-final-four |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com |language=en}}</ref> | ||
| *Department budget shortfalls have been wiped out.<ref name = :"rel"/> He negotiated a $96 million 15 year ] renewal<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carp |first=Sam |date= |
*Department budget shortfalls have been wiped out.<ref name = :"rel"/> He negotiated a $96 million 15 year ] renewal<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carp |first=Sam |date=October 18, 2018 |title=UConn inks US$96m IMG renewal |url=https://www.sportspro.com/news/uconn-huskies-img-deal-renewal/ |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=SportsPro |language=en-GB}}</ref> and multi-year extensions with ]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carp |first=Sam |date=July 27, 2017 |title=UConn ticks off mega Nike renewal |url=https://www.sportspro.com/sponsorship-marketing/sponsorship/uconn-ticks-off-mega-nike-renewal/ |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=SportsPro |language=en-GB}}</ref> through the 2028–2029 academic year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=David Benedict - Director of Athletics - Staff Directory |url=https://uconnhuskies.com/staff-directory/david-benedict/167?form=MG0AV3 |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=University of Connecticut Athletics |language=en}}</ref> | ||
| *There is a "dramatically upgraded" student-athlete center. This 80,000 square foot renovation was largely funded by ], a 1999 UConn graduate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Student-Athlete Center Funded by Historic Gift to UConn Athletics : CEG |url=https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/new-student-athlete-center-funded-by-historic-gift-to-uconn-athletics/58408 |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=www.constructionequipmentguide.com |language=en}}</ref> | |||
| ==Personal== | ==Personal== | ||
| His wife, Lisa, was a two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American gymnast at ASU; they have twin sons. His father, Allen, played football under Frank Kush at ASU and was a longtime football coach at ] and Mesa Community College before he got into ].<ref name = :"a"/> | His wife, Lisa, was a two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American gymnast at ASU; they have twin sons. His father, Allen, played football under Frank Kush at ASU and was a longtime football coach at ] and Mesa Community College before he got into ].<ref name = :"a"/> | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 04:51, 17 January 2025
American college sports administrator| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Athletic director |
| Team | UConn |
| Conference | Big East |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | Tempe, Arizona, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Southern Utah University |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1996–2006 | Arizona State University (assistant AD for development) |
| 2007–2010 | Long Beach State (assistant AD) |
| 2010–2012 | Virginia Commonwealth University (executive assistant AD, interim AD) |
| 2012–2014 | University of Minnesota (deputy AD) |
| 2014-2016 | Auburn University (COO of athletic department) |
| 2016-present | UConn |
David Benedict is the athletic director at the University of Connecticut. Under his aegis, UConn won consecutive men's NCAA basketball championships in 2023 and 2024.
Early life and education
Benedict is a native of Tempe, Arizona. He had his start in sports as a ball boy for Mesa Community College football team, where his father coached. After high school he played center and linebacker at MCC, after his father had left the program. A 1995 graduate of Southern Utah University, he played linebacker on the football team. He graduated with a degree in physical education, and obtained a master's degree in sports management from New Mexico Highlands in 1996, where was a graduate assistant football coach.
Sports management career
Benedict got his start in sports management in 1996 at Arizona State University. He was initially hired for only a single task, organizing the event dedicating and naming the football field for former coach Frank Kush. He impressed a top administrator and was offered a position. He describes his first role there as a "gofer...at the very bottom of the ranks." He was there until 2006, having advanced to being associate director of development and executive director of the fundraising Sun Angels Foundation. He left ASU to become assistant AD at Long Beach State; this was followed by a short detour into healthcare at Scottsdale Health Foundation. He returned to sports management in 2010 as associate AD at VCU, overseeing fundraising and "development operations." In 2012 he became interim AD, leading the school's transition from the Colonial League to the Atlantic 10. This was followed by stints of two years each at Auburn University, where he was COO of the athletics department, and University of Minnesota. At Auburn, he was closely involved in interviewing and then hiring Bruce Pearl as basketball coach.
AD at UConn
In 2016 he was appointed AD at UConn and his time there has been seen as successful:
- The men's basketball team won back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2004. Major moves by Benedict helped revitalize the "semi-dormant" basketball program; these included hiring Dan Hurley as coach in 2018 and orchestrating a complicated return to the Big East Conference in 2020.
- UConn Huskies women's basketball has maintained national prominence, and in 2024 he extended coach Auriemma's contract through 2029 providing stability for the program.
- He hired Jim Mora in 2021, which revitalized the football program.
- State of the art facilities for baseball, softball and men's and women's hockey have been built.
- Department budget shortfalls have been wiped out. He negotiated a $96 million 15 year IMG renewal and multi-year extensions with Nike through the 2028–2029 academic year.
- There is a "dramatically upgraded" student-athlete center. This 80,000 square foot renovation was largely funded by Trisha Bailey, a 1999 UConn graduate.
Personal
His wife, Lisa, was a two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American gymnast at ASU; they have twin sons. His father, Allen, played football under Frank Kush at ASU and was a longtime football coach at Tempe High School and Mesa Community College before he got into athletic administration.
References
- ^ Stanley, Logan. "UConn AD returns to Phoenix area, where he once worked for Arizona State". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ "Living His Sports Dream - Hartford Courant". digitaledition.courant.com. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- "Benedict at Hartford Rotary".
- Cluff, Jeremy. "Arizona State fans push Michael Crow to hire UConn's David Benedict as athletic director". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ^ "David Benedict named interim AD at VCU". CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR. May 1, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- "Living His Sports Dream - Hartford Courant". digitaledition.courant.com. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- ^ "David Benedict". Lead1 Association. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
- "David Benedict Named Director Of Athletics". University of Connecticuy Athletics. February 29, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- "Auburn's Bruce Pearl spent 3-year exile from college hoops working at a grocery distributor – 'I wasn't sure I'd ever coach again'". Yahoo Sports. 2022-03-15. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
- Kuttler, Hillel. "Bruce Pearl sees God's hand in coaching Auburn basketball". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
- ^ Pricco, Brendon (September 4, 2024). "Potential ASU AD candidate is currently in The Valley". Sun Devil Daily. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- "UConn athletics relishing rebound amid basketball success, facility upgrades". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. April 5, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- "UConn's Return To The Big East Already Having A Major Impact On The Program". TMG Sports. May 15, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- Cilley, Hayden (April 6, 2024). "UConn AD David Benedict embraces hectic schedules for Final Fours". Cronkite News. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- Weekly, UConn WBB. "Geno Auriemma signs five-year contract extension". UConn WBB Weekly. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- "UConn signs Geno Auriemma to 5-year, $18.7M contract extension". Yahoo Sports. June 5, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- CollegeNetWorth (August 16, 2024). "Jim L. Mora - UConn Huskies Contract, Net Worth, Coaching Information - CollegeNetWorth.com". www.collegenetworth.com. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- ^ "UConn athletics relishing rebound amid basketball success, facility upgrades". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. April 5, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- Carp, Sam (October 18, 2018). "UConn inks US$96m IMG renewal". SportsPro. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- Carp, Sam (July 27, 2017). "UConn ticks off mega Nike renewal". SportsPro. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- "David Benedict - Director of Athletics - Staff Directory". University of Connecticut Athletics. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- "New Student-Athlete Center Funded by Historic Gift to UConn Athletics : CEG". www.constructionequipmentguide.com. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- UConn Huskies athletic directors
- Southern Utah University alumni
- Arizona State University people
- New Mexico Highlands University alumni
- People from Tempe, Arizona
- Mesa Community College alumni
- Long Beach State Beach athletic directors
- Southern Utah Thunderbirds football players
- VCU Rams athletic directors
- University of Minnesota people