Michael Benson has been named the next president of West Virginia University.

CONWAY — West Virginia University has officially named Michael Benson as its next president , signaling the end of his four-year run leading Coastal Carolina University .

Benson, 59, told The Post and Courier Feb. 21 he was in contract negotiations for the WVU job. Those discussions culminated with the formal announcement Feb. 24 that Benson would take the Morgantown post in July.

"I am honored to be named president of West Virginia University — one of our nation’s oldest land-grant institutions," Benson said in a prepared statement. "My 30-year career in public higher education has prepared me for this singular opportunity, and I wish to thank the Board of Governors for the trust they have placed in me and hope to earn that same level of trust and support from the entire WVU community."

CCU leaders have already set up a committee to launch a national search for the university’s next president, according to an email sent to students. That committee is led by local attorney Natasha Hanna, CCU board’s vice chair. Hanna could not immediately be reached for comment.

Benson is CCU's third president since the school, located in Conway, became an independent university in 1993.

After arriving in 2020 to replace David DeCenzo , Benson guided the campus through major building projects, including a $20 million indoor practice facility and enhancements to Brooks Stadium. He also has announced plans for an 8,000-seat convocation center for large-scale campus and community events, and he secured a $10 million gift, the largest in the school's history.

Benson salary is $254,800, according to the S.C. Department of Administration's website.

"While we will certainly miss President Benson, I believe that his work, along with the work of the board and the University faculty and staff, has positioned us for tremendous opportunities in the days ahead," CCU Board Chairman Delan Stevens said in a Feb. 21 message to students. "I am confident that the pool of candidates for the next president of Coastal Carolina University will reflect the remarkable growth and progress the campus community has achieved under his leadership."

Stevens could not immediately be reached Feb. 24.

News of Benson's selection was first reported by MetroNews of West Virginia , which noted that Benson had been among 10 finalists for the position. The WVU board met for seven hours Feb. 20 before voting 15-2 in favor of offering Benson the job. He will replace retiring WVU President Gordon Gee .

Founded in 1867, the WVU system serves nearly 26,000 students and most are at the university's main campus in Morgantown, according to the school's website. The Mountaineers compete in the Big 12 Conference.

By comparison, CCU began as a junior college in 1954. CCU's enrollment reached 11,000 last year. The Chanticleers play in the Sun Belt Conference.

In announcing Benson's hiring, WVU Board Chairman Rick Pill pointed to Benson’s efforts in increasing enrollment and fundraising as reasons for his selection.

"As we look to advance our University and adapt to the fast-evolving world of higher education, the role of our University president is more critical now than ever,” Pill said in a news release. "On the heels of securing record-high retention numbers, maintaining a strong financial footing, developing positive student success programming and raising unprecedented dollars through the WVU Foundation, West Virginia University remains the formidable, flagship, land-grant institution that we all know and love. We look forward to Dr. Benson's leadership in continuing to guide us on this upward trajectory."

This will be Benson's fifth college presidency. He previously led Snow College, Southern Utah University and Eastern Kentucky University.