New Athletic Director: What do you look for?

[Dane96]

I think someone who knows about $ is good for our athletics department. He already mentioned branding, fan engagement, season ticket holders, etc. Hopefully he will have the skills to engage the community and fans to bring in the $ that they need to support a growing program.

 

Agreed! And the area of Norfolk is not much different in community make-up than Albany. Working class, grass-roots community.

[MRSGDG]

I think someone who knows about $ is good for our athletics department. He already mentioned branding, fan engagement, season ticket holders, etc. Hopefully he will have the skills to engage the community and fans to bring in the $ that they need to support a growing program.

 

Agreed! And the area of Norfolk is not much different in community make-up than Albany. Working class, grass-roots community.

 

So glad they went with someone with an athletics fundraising background! Even just to know how to manage money in general, etc.

Edited August 20, 2014 by MsGDG

[UAFAN]

Love the hire! Excited for the future!

[danefan]

Those not able to view/listen..

 

Q: About ODU fast progress..

A: Paraphrase: Five years for football program at ODU how to operate, finances, campus, atmosphere, etc. He said it was actually a slow long process. Have to market, who, what,when, grassroots efforts. Very inclusive process. He hopes to do that here, and collaborate here.

 

Perfect answer. Exactly what the last admin failed to recognize.

[Dane96]

http://csnbbs.com/thread-699161.html

 

Seems well-liked, and will be missed at O.D.U.

[MRSGDG]

Those not able to view/listen..

 

Q: About ODU fast progress..

A: Paraphrase: Five years for football program at ODU how to operate, finances, campus, atmosphere, etc. He said it was actually a slow long process. Have to market, who, what,when, grassroots efforts. Very inclusive process. He hopes to do that here, and collaborate here.

 

Perfect answer. Exactly what the last admin failed to recognize.

 

Hopefully someone will have the exact quotes from the press conference.

[MRSGDG]

ODU's local paper..

 

ODU's Mark Benson named athletic director at Albany

http://hamptonroads....director-albany

 

Mark Benson, who was a key player in helping Old Dominion found its football program, was named athletic director at the University of Albany in New York this morning.

 

Benson is a Northern Virginia native and North Carolina State graduate who in recent years been the public face of the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation, the school’s private fundraising group. Benson helped to lead efforts to raise money and sell season tickets.

 

Benson has spent 13 years at ODU. Two summers ago, Benson helped raise $5 million that paved the way for ODU to join Conference USA.

 

Albany is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association in football and the America East in most other sports. Benson will replace Lee McElroy, who is retiring.

 

“My background at Old Dominion and the private sector is something I hope will help us in building our season ticket base,” Benson said at a press conference at Albany this morning.

 

"It seemed like the growth at Old Dominion was a vast overnight explosion, but it really wasn't. We were very thoughtful and strategic about it."

Edited August 20, 2014 by MsGDG

[Dane96]

ODU's local paper..

 

ODU's Mark Benson named athletic director at Albany

http://hamptonroads....director-albany

 

Mark Benson, who was a key player in helping Old Dominion found its football program, was named athletic director at the University of Albany in New York this morning.

 

Benson is a Northern Virginia native and North Carolina State graduate who in recent years been the public face of the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation, the school’s private fundraising group. Benson helped to lead efforts to raise money and sell season tickets.

 

Benson has spent 13 years at ODU. Two summers ago, Benson helped raise $5 million that paved the way for ODU to join Conference USA.

 

Albany is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association in football and the America East in most other sports. Benson will replace Lee McElroy, who is retiring.

 

“My background at Old Dominion and the private sector is something I hope will help us in building our season ticket base,” Benson said at a press conference at Albany this morning.

 

"It seemed like the growth at Old Dominion was a vast overnight explosion, but it really wasn't. We were very thoughtful and strategic about it."

 

The bold is why this is a great hire. To leave a place he has deep roots tells me he really wants to build something. Further, he was a key cog in the transformation of ODU to an FBS level school. 5 years ago, they were known for good M&W's hoop. That was it...

[Dane96]

Well, A.D. Benson, one of your first jobs is to get our webpage in order. ODU's Athletic Dept has something up on their webpage about the move before we do:

 

http://www.odusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31100&ATCLID=209612134

[Jammaster]

Agreed. The more you consider this, the more it seems he has the right combination of hunger and loyalty. He talked about his wife and 3 kids as if he wants to plants roots in Albany and even more than at ODU, he can really put his stamp on every step of progress he might make.

 

side note: of course the ODU local article calls us University OF Albany.

[Dane96]

Not on UAlBANYSPORTS.com but on the Albany.edu link:

 

http://www.albany.edu/news/52597.php?WT.source=home&WT.svl=headline

[MRSGDG]

Well, A.D. Benson, one of your first jobs is to get our webpage in order. ODU's Athletic Dept has something up on their webpage about the move before we do:

 

http://www.odusports...TCLID=209612134

 

Or get our communications department to type something up..not sure it's a website issue lol. However, ODU actually knew prior to many at UA. ODU actually posted at 9am on twitter that he was leaving for UA...UA was waiting for the official 10am announcement. However, you'd think the communications office would at least know the finalists and could have written a few different releases and then put out the one that was chosen. But that's a damper of a discussion..and I think most people seem to be pleased with the pick, so that's what is important.

 

EDIT: just saw your link to the story on the albany.edu

Edited August 20, 2014 by MsGDG

[Dane96]

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Benson-named-new-athletic-director-at-UAlbany-5700401.php

[uofalbany]

Yep, let's just be pleased that he seems like a good hire.

[reeder]

IMO, a good hire. The athletic department and the University overall needs to focus on fundraising. President Jones was at an alumni event several months ago and talked about the need for more fundraising so it sounds like he's working on that plan (also talked about an engineering program and getting more out of state students - all things that were also referenced today)

 

1. Thought that it was interesting that the AE commissioner was there. Not sure if she was being strategic given some of the noise about a move to the CAA last year (there was a question about that but I couldn't hear it that well). I guess she has to start building relationships right away.

2. Was wondering why Gattuso was sitting up there until he made a plea for attending the opening game (and he seemed to represent all the coaches).