Karl Benson, a proud class of ‘75 graduate and 2006 Distinguished Alumni honoree, didn’t just earn a degree in Physical Education at Boise State — it’s where his coaching career began, his love for working in athletics grew, and his relationship with the university started.
In 1972, Benson was recruited from Spokane Falls Community College to play Bronco baseball under Lyle Smith, the legendary Boise State coach and longtime athletic director. Benson’s time on the field helped him discover his calling to teach, coach, and eventually lead to a career in intercollegiate athletic administration.
He began his career as an assistant baseball coach at Boise State in 1975 under Ross Vaughn, a dedicated coach and distinguished kinesiology professor whose mentorship shaped his career and strengthened his connection to the university.
After two years at Boise State, Benson secured his first head coaching position at Fort Steilacoom Community College, a stepping stone to a lifelong career in athletic administration. His various administrative roles eventually brought him to the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), where he served as commissioner of both the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Benson’s path in administration was firmly rooted in his Bronco experience, which helped launch a remarkable 40+ year career that concluded with his retirement in 2019 as commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference.
Rooted in Bronco Blue and Orange: Giving Back Where it All Began.
As a true champion of the university, giving back is nothing new for Benson, he’s been a proud supporter of Bronco Athletics since 2010. In 2013, he helped fund an endowed scholarship for kinesiology students, in honor of Ross Vaughn, the coach whose guidance at Boise State inspired him to pursue a career in athletics.
Benson recently gave a generous gift made from his IRA to help fund a vital piece of equipment that helps both the School of Kinesiology and Bronco Athletics: a DEXA machine — an advanced scanner used to assess body composition, bone density, and metabolic function to provide key information used to optimize health and athletic performance. Supporting the DEXA was an easy yes for Benson, not because of the technology itself, but because of its wide reaching impact.
“It touches so many parts of the university including health sciences, athletics, women’s health, and the general public,” says Benson. “Supporting the DEXA is about making an impact that extends across all of the Boise State community.”
Join the Team. Make an Impact.
Now more than ever as Benson believes in the importance of giving back to the place that helped shape him.
The Human Performance Lab is a cornerstone of Bronco student-athlete health and well-being and of kinesiology education and research because it provides critical insights into injury risk and recovery. Thanks to the support of Benson and other donors, Boise State athletic trainers and Kinesiology’s Human Performance Lab team can develop customized plans that will keep 400 student-athletes healthy and performing at championship levels.
Join Benson and be part of the team coming together to champion health at Boise State.