Florida
Athletics
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt University Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director Candice Storey Lee announced Friday that Earl Bennett will serve as Vanderbilt’s first executive general manager of athletics, positioning one of the most accomplished Commodores in recent history to help empower the school’s 17 varsity sports to thrive in a new era for college sports.
Bennett most recently served as senior associate athletic director for strategy and business operations.
“Earl Bennett’s experience and expertise uniquely qualify him for this vital new role,” Lee said. “As we continue investing in our student-athletes with championship-level resources, we see the fruits of our labor, but our work is far from done. We will be relentless in our pursuit of excellence.”
In his new role, Bennett will serve on the executive leadership team within Athletics and be responsible for the overall direction and supervision of the department’s new Roster and Finance division. His leadership will focus on the departmental strategy for cap management and anticipated revenue sharing, while supporting each sport program’s efforts in areas such as roster management, recruiting, contract negotiations and student-athlete resources.
This new division is one of several vital steps the department is taking in light of the changing landscape.
“I am excited to lead the Roster and Finance division for Vanderbilt Athletics as the Executive General Manager,” Bennett said. “As we navigate the evolving landscape of college athletics, our department’s mission is to rethink our model and structure to better support the complexities of the future while prioritizing our student-athletes. I am grateful to Dr. Candice Lee for her leadership and for giving me the opportunity to enhance the experience and development of our student-athletes, ensuring their continued success both on and off the playing field.”
A Double Dore, Bennett earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Vanderbilt’s Peabody College (2015 and 2018, respectively) and later completed his Ph.D. in higher education leadership and policy studies at the University of Houston.
On the football field, Bennett was a three-time All-SEC honoree for Vanderbilt and departed as the SEC’s all-time leader in career receptions. He was named an SEC Legend in 2015 and enshrined in the Vanderbilt Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017. Selected in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft, he played six seasons with the Chicago Bears.
Before his time as senior associate athletic director, he served as football’s director of player development and executive director of player development and administration.
