What does the David Benedict hire mean for UConn?

With David Benedict set to take over as the new Athletic Director, many students are beginning to ask a very important question: How will this affect me? Tuition continues to rise due to budget cuts, the school is in a sub-Power 5 conference, and Benedict’s predecessor left for greener pastures of a Big Ten school, leaving students to wonder when it will be UConn’s number finally being called to join one of the elite conferences in the nation.

After making his introduction speech, David Benedict, just being named Director of Athletics for the University of Connecticut, was asked about the school’s current athletic conference situation. With the speculation that UConn is looking for greener pastures, Benedict complimented the American Athletic Conference for building an impressively competitive conference in, “such a short time.”

“From a conference affiliation standpoint,” Benedict said, “our job is to make sure we’re competing and dominating whatever conference we are currently competing in.”

Benedict did not shut out the idea of UConn joining another conference, but he did not burn any of the bridges within the AAC. He was professional, concise, and intelligent.

With the speculation of certain Power 5 conference’s desire to expand, Benedict was bluntly asked if UConn is worthy to be in a Power-5 conference. Benedict, again was professional, and honest.

“This is a Power-5, or if you want to refer to it as an Autonomy-5, program all day, everyday,” Benedict said.

Power-5 schools don’t have a $27 million deficit. Those schools didn’t need to raise tuition and make up for the deficit in other ways. SEC and Big Ten schools have their own sports network, as does Big 12 school University of Texas. Money is crucial for an athletic program, and David Benedict seems up to task, according to UConn President Susan Herbs, who said that Benedict was above and beyond the best candidate for the job.

“It’s UConn’s Super Tuesday and we have a winner,” Herbst said.

Benedict said that competitiveness will be one of the many keys to continuing the program’s success. He vowed that the school will compete in everything and believes that the resources are here already to do so.

“We have a great collection of coaches here,” Benedict said. “I believe in our coaches and I believe that we’ll find from an administrative standpoint the necessary resources to continue to compete nationally.”

David Benedict is introduced as the new UConn Athletic Director at a press conference Tuesday (Photo Credit: Mark Mirko / Hartford Courant)

But how will the successor to Warde Manuel impact the student body, and the 18,000 plus undergrad population that dominates game-day crowds? Benedict talked about how important the game-day experience is to attracting fans-and most of all students-to come to games in all sports.

“I want to make our game-day experience one of the best in the nation,” Benedict said. “I will seek your [UConn fans] feedback, and we will do our best to make sure all of our events are entertaining for all who attend.”

Benedict wants to interact with the students, and gain their feedback specifically, saying that he “can’t wait to have that conversation with them.”

The other concern UConn students may have is if Warde Manuel left for greener Power 5 pastures, what’s stopping Benedict from doing the same if the opportunity presented itself? Benedict calmly, concisely, and professionally addressed the issue. As he introduced his family to the media and all in attendance, he assured his two sons, who moved all across the country with him, that they would “not be going anywhere for a long time.”