GNAC Mourns the Passing of Regis' Jason Behenna
WINTHROP, Mass. - Our hearts are heavy within the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) community as we share that Jason Behenna, Sports Information Director at Regis College, passed away this morning. Behenna, prior to his passing, was in his seventh year at Regis as well as his 25th year overall in the profession.
During his tenure at Regis, Behenna has made sure his office provides the necessary information on GoRegisPride.com and at home athletic events. He played a major role when Regis hosted the 2019 and 2024 GNAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, plus he has assisted the conference office in running the GNAC Swimming & Diving Championships from 2020-2023 and the GNAC Indoor Track & Field Championships since 2020.
Behenna also helped put together the nominations that led to major GNAC awards for Cole Anderson (GNAC Man of the Year) in 2020-21 and Emily Fagundo (GNAC Woman of the Year) in 2021-22, plus he oversaw Fagundo's nomination as she became Regis' first-ever Academic All-America honoree in both women's volleyball and women's track & field/cross country in 2021-22. Since he arrived, Regis has earned 88 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections.
The Regis College sports information office, led by Behenna, was voted the 2022-23 GNAC Athletic Communications Staff of the Year by the 14 core member sports information/athletic communications offices in the league. At the Athletics Awards Ceremony in April 2023, Behenna received the Regis Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Staff Appreciation Award for his "dedication and support to Regis College Athletics."
Jason was well-respected in his profession amongst the Regis and GNAC communities as his commitment and passion to enhancing the student-athlete experience was greatly acknowledged.
Visitation Information
A visitation has been scheduled for Sunday, November 24, 2024 From 12:00noon - 4:00PM. The visitation will be held at the J.F. Ward Funeral Home, 772 Broadway, Everett MA 02149.
Statement from Regis College President: Antoinette Hays, PhD, RN
It is with tremendous sadness, shock and a very heavy heart that I share with the Regis community the passing of the university’s Sports Information Director Jason Behenna this morning. With the start of the 2024-25 season, Jason had just begun his seventh year at Regis. This was his 25th year in the field of collegiate sports information.
Jason was a ubiquitous presence at Regis athletic events and served as a mentor to countless Regis undergraduate and graduate students. His indelible contributions to the university have shaped the athletic and professional careers of innumerable student-athletes and all of our athletics programs.
A veteran collegiate sports information professional, he was revered throughout college athletics. In 2019 and 2024 when Regis hosted the GNAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the conference turned to Jason to manage all event operations. He was also instrumental in managing the GNAC Swimming & Diving Championships from 2020 to 2023 and the GNAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. He was a professional in every sense of the word and a tireless fan of the Regis Pride, Boston teams, and the USC Trojans, his alma mater. Since Jason began his tenure at Regis, the university earned an impressive 88 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections.
The university is proud of his leadership that was recognized by his conference colleagues as the 2022-23 GNAC Athletic Communications Staff of the Year. That same year, Jason was honored by the Regis Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Staff Appreciation Award for his "dedication and support to Regis College Athletics."
The university offers to faculty and staff free counseling services through AllOne Health. Those who wish to speak with a counselor may call 800.451.1834. Please avail yourself of these resources that are free for all faculty and staff.
Arrangements have not yet been finalized but will be shared with the community once available. I would like to invite the Regis community to a prayer service at 12 noon tomorrow, Wednesday (Nov. 20), in the Chapel located in College Hall to remember and celebrate Jason’s life.
As a community of faith, we pray for Jason and for the strength of his loved ones and colleagues during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Antoinette Hays, PhD, RN