Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Principal Ted Moccia’s mother once told him that if he wanted something done, find the busiest person because you know they will get it done.

That’s why Moccia’s go-to guy is usually Jeff Benson.

“He’s the busiest guy I know, but if you ask him, he’ll get it done somehow,” Moccia said. “He’s just that kind of person.”

The dependability, ingenuity and countless other qualities Benson brings to his job as Oxford Hills’ athletic director have been recognized on the local and state level in the past. Now, he’s getting his due nationally.

Benson is one of eight high school athletic administrators who will receive a citation from the National Federation of State High School Associations at the 39th annual National Conference of High School Directors of Athletics next week in San Diego.

The Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association nominated Benson and NFHS board of directors selected him out of a pool of nominees from a section encompassing all of New England plus New York and New Jersey.

“There are probably a hundred other guys in this state that could be doing the same thing,” Benson said. “Everybody in my conference, in the KVAC, I certainly share it with them.”

“I’m the third Maine guy in a row now,” he added.

The citations are presented annually to athletic administrators in recognition of their contributions to interscholastic athletics at the local, state and national levels. Don Wilson of Biddeford and Jim Murphy of George Stevens Academy earned the citation in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

“I think speaks volumes of the kind of job that he does and the respect that he has not only here but across New England,” said Moccia, who coached football at Oxford Hills. “There’s nobody that’s more kid-centered.”

“He certainly deserves it. He’s one of the best,” said varsity boys’ basketball coach Scott Graffam, who serves as a faculty manager assisting Benson.

In 2007, Benson received the MIAAA Robert Lahey Award as the state’s athletic director of the year. He also has been named the KVAC’s athletic director of the year.

Benson oversees 100 coaches and 50 athletic programs throughout SAD 17 and also manages the athletic facilities.

Moccia said Benson spreads his duties beyond the typical athletic directors job, whether it’s organizing fundraisers or rewarding the team with the highest collective GPA each season with T-shirts.

Benson also serves on committees for the Maine Principals’ Association and the MIAAA state board and is active with the Auburn Suburban Little League. He’s also a baseball umpire and high school and college basketball official.

“Any time you can go the extra for kids, because it’s for kids, you do it. That’s just the way I was brought up with the guys I learned under,” Benson said.

He credits the help he receives from his secretary, Pam Colby, the school and district administration, his coaches, the athletes, his wife Jody and son Josh with allowing him to be so active in sports.

“It makes my job a whole heck of a lot easier, I can tell you that,” he said.

Benson and other athletic administrators’ jobs are getting harder with state cuts and the struggling economy. Benson knows there will be plenty of topics for discussion at the Dec. 12-17 conference.

“Everybody’s budget is frozen. How do you get creative? You don’t want to lose programs because you definitely know that affects kids. How do you do it to minimize the impact on kids educationally and athletically, because they’re tied together?,” he said. “Those are tough questions that everybody is going to have to deal with.”