MIT Senior Associate Director of Athletics John Benedick has announced his retirement, effective at the end of the 2018-19 academic year.
“It is difficult to put into a few words the experience of a lifetime,” says Benedick. “I have been incredibly fortunate to have had the privilege to work with so many talented and giving individuals at MIT. I have learned many valuable lessons from our student-athletes and my colleagues that I will never forget and will always appreciate. MIT and the people who make MIT have given me a great gift by allowing me to be part of this amazing community. I look forward to the continued success of DAPER and our student-athletes.”
He is currently in his 44th year as a member of the MIT Athletics staff and is the senior associate director of athletics for sports administration. In his role, Benedick deals with the development of operational and budget processes and procedures for the intercollegiate athletics program. In addition, he is also the director of NCAA Compliance for the Institute’s 33 intercollegiate teams and played a key role in developing the design of the swimming and diving complex in the Zesiger Center.
“John has been the quintessential professional throughout his career at MIT,” says Julie Soriero, MIT director of athletics. “From his time on the pool deck as a coach to his attention to detail with compliance as an athletic administrator, everyone on our staff has respected his dedication, knowledge and service to MIT as well as our department. He has served as a strong and thoughtful leader who always led with integrity and professionalism. I speak for many when I say thank you and wish him the best as he steps into retirement.”
Prior to moving into administration, Benedick spent 22 years coaching the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams, as well as serving as the head coach of the men’s water polo team.
As a coach, Benedick had over 50 of his student-athletes earn All-America honors to go along with numerous conference champions and three national champions. He was a two-time Coach of the Year honoree by the New England Intercollegiate Swimming Association while serving as the President of both the Collegiate Water Polo Association and the New England Intercollegiate Swimming Association.
Benedick was also the secretary treasurer for the New England Water Polo Association, has served on the NCAA Rules Committee for Water Polo and was a member of Women and Minorities Strategic Alliance Grant Committee for the NCAA. In addition, he has also served on numerous athletic department review committees for NCAA institutions.
Benedick graduated from California State University at Hayward with a bachelor of science degree in physical education. He then went on to earn his master’s degree in motor learning and sport sociology from the University of California at Berkeley.
As a swimmer and water polo player at Cal-State Hayward, Benedick was an All-American in three individual events and two relays. He was also the team captain and Far Western Conference Champion in the 50-yard freestyle. In 2012, he was inducted in to the Collegiate Water Polo Association Hall of Fame.
