Coastal Carolina University President Michael Benson has received an offer to assume the presidency of West Virginia University, where he faces the challenge of reversing a decline in student enrollment that has persisted for over a decade. The announcement regarding Coastal Carolina’s decision came in a communication to its campus members on Friday evening, shortly after West Virginia University’s Board of Governors confirmed the selection of its next president without revealing the name until a contract is finalized.
Neither institution has disclosed whether Benson has accepted the offer, although Coastal Carolina has initiated a search for a successor to Benson following the decision. H. Delan Stevens, the chairman of Coastal Carolina’s board, expressed confidence in the foundations laid by Benson and the campus community that will enable the university to seize new opportunities moving forward.
If Benson takes the role, he will succeed E. Gordon Gee, the university’s longest-serving president, who announced his retirement in August 2023 amid a budget crisis. Gee’s contract is set to conclude in June 2025.
Benson, who will celebrate his 60th birthday next week, has served as president at Coastal Carolina for four years, having previously held leadership positions at Eastern Kentucky University, Southern Utah University, and Snow College in Ephraim, Utah. Notably, he became the youngest president in the history of Utah’s higher education system when he was appointed at age 36. A history professor, Benson has also taught at each institution where he has served.
Renowned for his fundraising abilities, Benson played a pivotal role in making Snow College the first junior college athletic program in the United States to receive sponsorship from Nike. Under his leadership, the school raised more funds in five years than it did in its prior 115 years, as noted in local reports. In 2022, Coastal Carolina received a landmark $10 million donation from Conway Medical Center, marking the largest gift in the university’s history.
In addition to fundraising, Benson has placed a strong emphasis on civic involvement, actively participating in various committees, including the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. A memorable incident occurred a decade ago at Eastern Kentucky University when, after a snowstorm led to class cancellations, a student humorously tweeted that he wouldn’t attend class until Benson cleared his driveway. Benson showed up within an hour to shovel the driveway and later shared a meal with the student and his family.
Benson’s impressive educational background includes degrees from Brigham Young University, Notre Dame, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Oxford in England, where he also played varsity basketball alongside current U.S. Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey. Notably, both Benson and Gee share Utah roots and are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Gee, who is 81 years old, began his current tenure at West Virginia University in 2014 and has had a significant impact on university operations. Following his announcement of retirement, the university tackled a $45 million budget deficit through measures that included raising tuition, eliminating about 8% of its majors, and reducing faculty positions by roughly 5%. These actions faced severe criticism from the American Federation of Teachers for being excessively severe.
As of last summer, West Virginia University reported an improved financial outlook following additional reductions to bachelor’s degree programs at its satellite campuses. However, the university has seen a 17.5% decline in enrollment across its campuses since 2015, further complicated by losses incurred during the pandemic and growing debt from new construction projects. In contrast, under Benson’s leadership, Coastal Carolina University achieved a historic enrollment of 11,000 students last fall.
