Posted on: Tuesday, May 21, 2002

WAC's Benson denies he's candidate for AD job at UH

Advertiser Staff

Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson refuted a newspaper report that he has applied for the athletic director's job at the University of Hawai'i.

"I've not applied for the position, I'm not a candidate for the position," Benson said in response to a column in Sunday's Fresno (Calif.) Bee. "The story that appeared in the Fresno Bee is erroneous."

In addition, Benson sent e-mails to presidents of the WAC schools denying his candidacy.

Paul Costello, UH Vice President for External Affairs, said the 18-member screening committee is still finalizing its specifications for the position.

Benson, who has been commissioner of the WAC since 1994, has three years remaining on a five-year contract extension that is believed to be worth in excess of $200,000 per year. UH has said it expects to pay its next athletic director around $180,000 per year, or about the national Division IA average for the position.