
Benton Smith was born in Kansas City, Mo., and bounced around in the years that followed, living in Pennsylvania, Iowa and North Carolina, before moving to Lawrence in 2006.
Along the way, he lived in Sanford, N.C., for a huge chunk of his life and graduated in 2002 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — an institution, he assures diehard Kansas fans, which he attended primarily for its in-state tuition and journalism program.
Shortly after moving to Lawrence, Smith began working part-time at the Journal-World, initially covering youth sports. Next, he covered Free State High athletics and area sports for the J-W, before taking on the position of sports editor for one of The World Company's weekly newspapers, The Mirror, in Tonganoxie. He worked there from 2008 to 2011, until returning to the Journal-World to lead its high school sports coverage.
In 2013, Smith took on a new role with KUsports.com, as a digital editor, blogger and writer and that role changed again in 2016, when Smith was promoted to KU football beat writer shortly after the World Company sold the Lawrence Journal-World and KUsports.com to Ogden Newspapers.
Since the sale, Smith has become an even more important member of the KUsports.com team, expanding his coverage to include writing columns at men's basketball games and continuing to oversee our coverage of KU football, which included the hiring of Les Miles as KU's new head football coach in late 2018.
Recent Stories
-
Cyclones blow out Jayhawks as KU's skid extends to 7 games
Today -
Report: Les Miles’ lawyer now wants LSU’s 2013 internal investigation released
Today 1 -
Jayhawks aim to 'finish' following recent string of narrow defeats
Yesterday 1 -
Former KU RB Pooka Williams to participate in NFL combine virtually, via KU's pro day
Yesterday -
Texas prep Jacobe Chester becomes newest 3-star recruit in KU's 2022 class
March 1, 2021 1 -
Jayhawks' upset bid denied late as No. 18 WVU escapes, 72-68
February 27, 2021 1 -
Jayhawks remain hopeful, despite 5-game skid
February 26, 2021 1 -
Reports: Les Miles accused of sexual harassment while at LSU; reached settlement with an LSU student
February 24, 2021 9 -
Jayhawks looking to recover after discouraging one-possession losses
February 23, 2021 -
Jake Schoonover added to KU football staff as OLBs coach, special teams coordinator
February 22, 2021