Saranac Lake Central School athletic director Eric Bennett displays his Outstanding Athletic Administrator award March 14 following a ceremony at the Saratoga Hilton in Saratoga Springs. (Photo provided)

Saranac Lake athletic director Eric Bennett was named as an Outstanding Athletic Administrator at the New York State Athletic Administrators’ Association awards banquet on March 14 at the Saratoga Hilton.

Bennett, who is also the school’s varsity head football coach, is currently in his fourth year as athletic director. He was recognized for his role in structuring a girls hockey merger with Lake Placid, working to afford student-athletes the option to compete in two sports in one season and implementing the Unified Basketball program.

“Eric is insightful and observant within the CVAC and Section VII,” Matt Walentuk, Executive Director of Section VII and Chapter 7 representative for the NYSAAA, said. “Eric has played an integral role in helping to push for the use of online scheduling and helped navigate Section VII towards improved communication through the use of specific software.”

Bennett has served as the NYSAAA Assistant Chapter 7 Representative since 2016. He has coached high school football since 2003, taking over the head varsity coaching position in 2010. In 2012, he was named Champlain Valley Athletic Conference football coach of the year.

“In the four years I have known Eric Bennett, I have known him to be a proponent of athletics within Section VII and his own school district,” CVAC president Josh Harrica said. “Eric is a role model to student-athletes and has been an outstanding colleague to fellow athletic directors throughout Section VII. Eric understands the value of athletics in education and wants to ensure that the student-athletes have a positive experience.”