Bender Named to Davidson Athletics Hall of Fame

HANOVER, N.H. — Rick Bender, Dartmouth's Senior Associate Athletics Director for Varsity Athletics Communications, has been named to the Davidson Athletics Hall of Fame, as announced on Wednesday. A three-time first-team all-conference honoree in baseball, Bender also spent eight years as the Wildcats' Sports Information Director before his time at Dartmouth.

Bender was one of five individuals named to the Davidson College Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024. The induction ceremonies will take place on Saturday, Jan. 27.

Congrats to @RickBender12 '93, who will be inducted into the Davidson Athletics Hall of Fame in January!!!

A standout SS, Rick remains among the program's leaders in extra-base hits, total bases, runs scored, games played and more! pic.twitter.com/rj7w79gaUG
— Davidson Baseball (@DavidsonBASE) October 4, 2023

As an athlete, Bender graduated as the program's all-time leader in hits, doubles, extra-base hits, total bases, at-bats and games played. A standout shortstop, he still ranks among the all-time leaders in those categories, including second with 90 extra-base hits, second with 401 total bases, third with 176 runs scored and fourth with 198 games played. Bender continues to own the single-season assists record with 192 in 1991.

Bender went on to play four summers of independent professional baseball in the Frontier and Texas-Louisiana Leagues.

After his playing days, the 1993 graduate worked at his alma mater as an assistant coach and then in sports information. Bender spent three years as Davidson's assistant sports information director, then was promoted to the director position where he oversaw communications efforts for the Wildcats' 21 Division I varsity sports. He is now doing the same for the Big Green's 35 sports.

Among Bender's many accomplishments are serving as Co-Media Coordinator for the Men's College Cup in both 1999 and 2000, as well as the Media Coordinator for the 2005 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament first- and second- round games in Charlotte, North Carolina.

At Dartmouth, Bender's 2019 story on Big Green football player Phil Berton won the District I award for story with video in the CoSIDA Fred Stabley Sr. Writing Contest. Bender, along with two staff members, received the national award for the best Special Event Program, University Division, for the Dartmouth football game program at Yankee Stadium. In 2023, Bender received the 25-Year Award from the CSC for a quarter century in the profession.

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