Bender Looks to Expand, Improve, Build MU Sports Information Office
Jarred Hubbard
Dillon Bender, who has been at Manchester University for almost a year, has been improving and developing the sports information office, but he knows that there is still a long way to go.
“My job is to help our athletes with getting their faces out there and getting more exposure since this is a smaller school,” Bender said. “I know what it’s like to succeed at the Division III level and on a national level.”
Bender’s career started in 2016 while serving at Rose-Hulman as a graduate assistant. “I loved it at Rose-Hulman,” he said I enjoyed the students and the experience of being hands-on and I developed a real passion for being hands-on.” While at Rose-Hulman Bender got the chance to cover 18 conference champions while being there for two years.
Personally, he also has an extensive athletic background. Bender went to Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, Pa, there he became a standout basketball player. In fact, he was a finalist for Division III basketball’s highest award of being the Most Outstanding Student-Athlete. He finished his career as a junior for the Mounties being their 8th all-time leading scorer with 1,185 points. He earned all-conference honors as a senior and he was named AMCC Male Scholar Athlete of the year. He happens to be one of the most decorated student-athletes in Mount Aloysius history. His father also serves as an assistant coach at Clemson University.
Bender knew he didn’t want to coach, though. He was approached by his cousin about sports communications. “I told them I didn’t know anything about it, but I thought about it and it was a way for me to stay involved in sports,” he said. “This position changes your perspective about all sports. I’m glad that this job has helped me to develop relationships with a lot of people and I have kept those relationships as well.”
Bender also said that he is looking to bring his background to Manchester. He wants to help the institution to improve every single year and continue to be a school that student-athletes want to come to. “My job is to be a guy that helps this program grow and makes sure we bring more people in,” he said. “We want to make this college a pathway for all student-athletes and coaches.”
He knows that this process is a continual one. “We don’t have all the technology and resources at the moment, but I know we are going to grow and get better all together,” he said.