ST. PAUL, Minn.- The University of Northwestern Athletic Department has announced a change to the Sports Information staff for the 2023-2024 school year. David Pederson, who has served as the Assistant Sports Information Director at UNW for the past two years, has been promoted to the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information role. The change will take place officially on September 4^th, 2023.

David Pederson is no stranger to UNW athletics. The 2018 graduate of Northwestern has been involved in multiple different areas in his time at UNW. While a student from 2014-2018, Pederson served as a Sports Information Intern under former Sports Information Director Jay Hilbrands. During that time, Pederson also worked with UNW Men's Basketball as a Student Assistant Coach.

After graduating from Northwestern in 2018, Pederson stayed in collegiate athletics by serving a two year stint at the University of Dubuque as a Men's Basketball Graduate Assistant where he earned a Master's Degree in Communication. After his Graduate Assistantship in Iowa ended, Pederson came right back to his alma mater. In 2020, he came back to Tim Grosz's Men's Basketball coaching staff where he served as a Volunteer Assistant Coach. While serving in this role, Pederson began to get involved in all areas of athletics. Throughout the year Pederson chipped in with sports information work and site managing, including site managing at the NCAA Division III Baseball Regional that was hosted at Reynolds Field.

In 2021, Athletic Director Matt Hill hired Pederson as full time staff member. Pederson was named the Assistant Sports Information Director while also becoming a full time Assistant Coach for the Men's Basketball team. While serving under the SID Jordan Benson, Pederson was heavily involved in game day operations, website maintenance and upkeep, running the official UNW Eagles social media, and much more. Pederson also site managed all UNW Football home games in 2022 and served as the assistant tournament director when UNW Volleyball hosted the NCAA Division III Regional in the fall of 2022.

Pederson is thrilled to be remaining at Northwestern and to be serving in his new role as Sports Information Director. "I am excited to begin working as the Sports Information Director at the best school in the country," Pederson said. "Ever since I began working with UNW Athletics in 2014, I have absolutely loved it. The staff and most importantly the students here at Northwestern are some of the best people I have ever met. UNW Athletics, under the leadership of Dr. Hill, have established a great reputation as a school that pursues competitive greatness while also remembering that bringing honor and glory to Christ is the most important thing. I can't wait to see what our teams and athletes accomplish this upcoming school year and I am excited to continue to serve them in whatever way I can."

Dr. Matt Hill is another person who is looking forward to seeing Pederson in the new role. "I'm excited to have David lead our Athletic Media and Communications department at UNW," Dr. Hill said. "David has a distinguished history at Northwestern as a student, coach, and working in the Sport Information Department. I'm excited to see the growth and expansion of Eagle athletics that will occur under David's leadership."

David Pederson will also serve as the UNW Women's Basketball Associate Head Coach under Head Coach Aaron Kahl this upcoming season.

Pederson will take the role that was previously held by Jordan Benson. Benson has been a key piece for the UNW Athletic Department ever since he was hired in February, 2021. Under Jordan Benson's leadership, UNW Sports Information has soared to new heights. The Eagle Sports Network has become a top Division III Athletics viewing experience as Eagle fans have been treated to broadcasts that feature multiple camera angles, quality replays, graphics, and the "Voice of the Eagles" Ryan Mitchell who is a top quality athletic announcer.

UNW Eagles Social Media has also thrived under Benson's leadership. UNW Eagles has become a popular brand on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube while Benson has led the Sports Information Department. Eagle fans have been able to find updates and highlights surrounding their favorite teams on many different social media platforms and UNW Eagles has over 10,000 total followers on the combined social media platforms.

Northwestern athletic programs have thrived while Jordan Benson has served as the SID which has given UNW the opportunity to host many postseason events. Benson has overseen Upper Midwest Athletic Conference postseason contests in multiple sports. He has also coordinated two separate NCAA Division III National Tournament Regionals that have taken place at UNW during his tenure. Benson ran the sports information side of the NCAA Division III Baseball Regional in 2021 and the Volleyball Regional in 2022.

Benson is very thankful for everybody he has worked with at UNW, but has a special place in his heart for the student workers that have assisted him throughout his tenure. "I'm very grateful to have had the opportunity to work at Northwestern," Jordan said. "Getting to work alongside all the coaches to cover and promote their programs has been incredible. Our phenomenal student staff not only make running game days possible but allow us to go above and beyond to provide the best possible experience for the student-athletes. I'll always be thankful for my time in this department."

Jordan Benson will be leaving UNW in the upcoming weeks but will not be traveling far. He will still have a connection to UNW Athletics as he will be taking the currently vacant position of Assistant Commissioner of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, which is the conference that every sport at Northwestern (except Men's and Women's Lacrosse) currently call home.

Jordan is thrilled to be a part of the conference office and the leadership team that continue to shape the present and future of the conference. "I'm really looking forward to getting started at the UMAC," Jordan said. "Our conference is full of talented student-athletes that put in the hard work to help their teams succeed. I'm excited that I will have the opportunity to cover and promote all of the programs in our conference."

UNW Athletics, led by Dr. Matt Hill, would like to thank Jordan Benson for his near three years of dedication and service to this athletic department and wish him well as the new Assistant Commissioner of the UMAC. We are excited to continue to partner with him as he helps lead the conference.