SYRACUSE, N.Y. — John Wildhack, director of athletics at Syracuse University, will continue to lead the Orange’s department of athletics for at least the next five years.
Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud on Thursday announced that Wildhack’s contract has been extended through mid-2025. No financial terms were disclosed.
Wildhack — a 1980 alumnus of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications — became director of athletics in July 2016, after departing ESPN. He leads the daily operations of a 20-sport athletics department with more than 600 student-athletes, Syracuse said.
During Wildhack’s four-year tenure, 42 teams have represented Syracuse at national championship events, including 39 NCAA competitions. In addition, the football team returned to the postseason in 2018 and captured its 16th bowl victory by defeating West Virginia in the Camping World Bowl.
The Orange have won 23 conference championships (four team, 19 individual) in that span and two national championships (Justyn Knight won the NCAA cross country championship and the NCAA indoor championship in the 5,000-meter run during the 2017-18 academic year).
“Syracuse University is very pleased with John’s performance as director of athletics, and I am delighted that he will continue to lead our programs through 2025,” Syverud said. “He has elevated our program in many ways, on and off the playing fields, and inside and outside the classroom. Our student-athletes are performing at the highest levels academically and athletically. That success is a testament to John’s leadership and the hard work and dedication of his great team of coaches and staff.”
