WAC's Karl Benson taking reins at Sun Belt

NEW ORLEANS — Western Athletic Conference Commissioner Karl Benson has agreed to become the next commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference, a person familiar with the hiring said.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the Sun Belt Conference had not announced the hiring. The Sun Belt issued a statement that it would have an announcement about the future of the conference on Thursday afternoon, but did not provide further details.

Benson has been the WAC commissioner since 1994, and spent four years as commissioner of the Mid-American Conference before that. He will take over for outgoing Sun Belt Commissioner Wright Waters, who is retiring this summer.

Benson, 60, has helped reshape the WAC numerous times during his tenure, and leaves in the middle of its latest transformation.

The WAC is left with Utah State, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, Idaho and San Jose State and it has Denver, Seattle, Texas State, Texas-Arlington and Texas-San Antonio joining for the 2012-13 season. Denver, Seattle and UT-Arlington do not have football programs.