NEW ORLEANS (AP) – A person familiar with the hiring says Western Athletic Conference Commissioner Karl Benson has agreed to become the next commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the Sun Belt Conference had not announced the hiring. The Sun Belt issued a statement that it would have an announcement about the future of the conference on Thursday afternoon, but did not provide further details. Benson has been the WAC commissioner since 1994, and spent four years as commissioner of the Mid-American Conference before that. He will take over for outgoing Sun Belt Commissioner Wright Waters, who is retiring this summer. The Sun Belt has 12 member institutions across Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas.