WAC commissioner Benton may step down

First, it lost half its teams. Now, the Western Athletic Conference may be losing its commissioner.

Karl Benson, who oversaw the WAC's expansion from 10 to 16 teams in 1996, is a finalist for the athletic director's spot at the University of Denver. And while Benson said he has not been officially offered the job, sources said he is expected to be made an offer later this week.

"I have spoken to the chancellor, Daniel Ritchie, about the position," Benson said Tuesday. "But it would be premature to say I'm leaving the WAC."

Benson, Wake Forest associate athletic director Perk Weisenburger and Idaho State AD Irv Cross are said to be the frontrunners in the search at Denver, which is upgrading its athletic program to Division I status this year. Besides, DU is completing a $52 million multi-purpose athletic facility that would be home to its basketball and hockey teams.

Benson, 46, has been with the WAC since 1994. He had been the commissioner of the Mid-American Conference prior to joining the WAC. He also worked for the NCAA for four years, serving as the dirtector of championships before becoming the MAC commissioner.

Benson spent Tuesday in Dallas meeting with the eight athletic directors of the remaining WAC schools. He notified them that he was a candidate for the DU job. He also is in the running for the commissioner's spot with the Big 12 Conference, though Benson said he has only had informal talks with the search committee at this point and no formal interview has been scheduled.

He also said he was not a candidate to be commssioner of the eight breakaway WAC schools. In June, Benson announced he was remaining with the WAC. His contract runs through 2000.

Benson said he and his family are comfortable in Denver and that would obviously play into any decision he makes. There has been speculation that the WAC would move its offices from the Denver suburbs to Texas, most likely Dallas, a year from now when the WAC is reduced to eight schools, half of which would reside in the Lone Star state.

Benson hoped the matter would be resolved one way or another by the end of the week. He said he hoped to hear from Ritchie in the next couple of days and if offered the job, would take a couple of days to make a decision.

"Right now, it's just speculation," he said. "Until I'm offered the job, there's not much I can say."

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