The Texas Tech University System has hired Eric Bentley as its new top lawyer.

In addition to being named general counsel, Bentley also will serve as the system's vice chancellor, effective Sept. 10, according to a news release announcing the appointment.

Bentley succeeds a retiring John Huffaker, who served as vice chancellor and GC since February 2012.

He comes to the Lubbock, Texas-based, four-university, nearly 53,000-student public TTU System from the Office of the GC at the University of Houston System. He began his legal career there, spending 15 years in four roles of increasing responsibility, most recently senior associate GC.

“Eric immediately stood out in an extensive pool of qualified candidates during the interview process,” TTU System Board of Regents vice chairman Tim Lancaster said in a statement. “He comes highly recommended and will be an extremely valuable addition to our executive cabinet and component institutions.”

In his new role, Bentley will provide legal counsel to the system and its component institutions, coordinate institutional compliance and oversee legal teams at each university—Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso.

Bentley could not immediately be reached for comment but in a statement referenced his honor at joining a “first-class university system.”

“I look forward to working with the dynamic leadership at all four universities and the system administration, along with a talented team in the Office of General Counsel,” he said.

Bentley earned his degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 2004.