SYRACUSE — John Wildhack remembers watching Syracuse University football games at both Archbold Stadium as an student in the late 1970s and in the Carrier Dome when it first opened in September 1980. In the years that followed, Wildhack brought his family to watch football and basketball games in the Carrier Dome as well. He’s […]
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SYRACUSE — John Wildhack remembers watching Syracuse University football games at both Archbold Stadium as an student in the late 1970s and in the Carrier Dome when it first opened in September 1980.
In the years that followed, Wildhack brought his family to watch football and basketball games in the Carrier Dome as well.
He’s now preparing to lead the department that oversees all Orange athletics.
Syracuse University on July 12 formally introduced Wildhack as its new athletics director (AD) to the public during an event at the George R. Iocolano and William C. Petty Football Wing.
“There were many excellent candidates for the AD position this summer. I believe we could not have made a finer choice,” Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud said in his remarks, rolling out the red carpet for Wildhack.
Wildhack, a 1980 Syracuse alumnus, has worked for ESPN for nearly 36 years. He currently serves as the network’s executive VP for programming and production, a role he’s held since January 2014.
Following Syverud’s introduction, Wildhack said it is “great to be home” and it is “truly one of the more special days in my life.”
“I am proud, honored, and very humbled to have been chosen as your next athletics director,” he added in his remarks addressing friends, family, Syracuse colleagues, and local reporters during his introductory event.
Wildhack will lead a department that in the past year enjoyed national championships in men’s cross country and women's field hockey; a national championship game appearance by the women’s basketball team; and Final Four appearances by the women’s lacrosse, men’s basketball, and men’s soccer teams.
“That is incredibly impressive,” said Wildhack.
He also noted that 63 percent of Orange athletes had a grade-point average of 3.0 or better, an academic performance which he described as “equally as impressive and equally as important.”
“My staff and I look forward to building on this success, working with all our coaches and to ensure that we create a foundation for sustained success, both academically and athletically,” said Wildhack.
Wildhack will start his appointment as Syracuse AD in mid-August.
Wildhack is a Buffalo native who graduated from Syracuse’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1980. He went to work at ESPN as a production assistant shortly after graduation as the sports-cable network was just getting started.
He remained at ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut, rising up the ranks as a producer, programming director, and executive.
Syverud chaired the committee assembled to help search for the new athletic director. The working group included Syracuse head football coach Dino Babers; Rick Burton, professor of sport management in the David Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and the faculty athletics representative; Kimberly Keenan-Kirkpatrick, deputy athletics director and senior women’s administrator; Robert Miron, university trustee and chair of the board of trustees’ athletics committee; and Brittney Sykes, a member of the Syracuse women’s basketball team.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com