Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson could leave the conference before the University of Hawaii does.

Benson is expected to become commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference shortly.

Benson, 60, declined to confirm the move Tuesday, saying, “I’m not going to comment on rumors.”

But CBSsports.com, which first reported the story, said an announcement could come as soon as Thursday.

Benson, the longest-serving commissioner in WAC history, is concluding his 17th year with a conference that has felt the brunt of league realignment changes in recent years.

Fourteen members have departed since 1999. It will become 17 on July 1, 2012, when UH, the conference’s senior current member, ends a 33-year affiliation and joins Fresno State and Nevada in moving to the Mountain West in football. Most of UH’s other sports will join the Big West.

Changes in WAC membership that could force it to become a basketball-only conference as soon as 2013 are believed to be behind Benson’s move. His contract with the WAC runs through 2014.

In his WAC tenure, Benson saw two schools, Boise State and UH, earn Bowl Championship Series berths. He earned a reputation as a keen judge of program potential in identifying Boise State, Texas Christian and Nevada as rising programs to replace other departures.   

Benson will replace Wright Waters, who is retiring after 13 years as commissioner of the Sun Belt.