Syracuse University expects to name new AD by late summer, hires search firm

SYRACUSE, N.Y — Syracuse University (SU) announced Monday that it expects to name a new athletic director in time for the 2015-16 school year that begins late this summer.

The university has hired the executive search firm DHR International’s Sports Practice Group leader Glenn Sugiyama and Pat Richter to consult on all aspects of the search, including profile development, recruitment, and selection of an experienced candidate, it said in a news release.

Sugiyama earlier in his career was a member of the board of directors of the Chicago Bulls NBA team. He had also been an assistant basketball coach at Eastern Michigan University. Richter was formerly the athletic director at the University of Wisconsin.

SU also announced its full nine-member internal search committee for finding the new AD to replace Daryl Gross.

Gross resigned in March and now serves as vice president and special assistant to SU Chancellor Kent Syverud as well as adjunct professor in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.

SU Trustee Steve Ballentine, CEO of Ballentine Capital Management, will chair the search committee, which is composed of student, faculty, and staff representatives, and members of its Board of Trustees.

The other eight search committee members are:

§  Richard Burton, professor of sport management and faculty athletics representative

§  Veronica Dyer, strength and conditioning coach for Olympic sports

§  James Kuhn, university trustee and vice chair of the Board of Trustees

§  Robert Miron, university trustee and chair of the Board of Trustees’ athletics committee

§  LaVonda Reed, associate provost for faculty affairs and professor of law

§  Sam Rodgers, a former Syracuse football player who is scheduled to graduate this year

§  Peter Sala, interim athletic director and managing director of the Carrier Dome

§  Barry L. Wells, special assistant to the chancellor

The committee convened and met with prospective search firms last week, the university said. It is charged with presenting at least two final candidates to Syverud for his review. The new athletic director will report to Syverud.

“This is a key moment for Syracuse University to recruit an outstanding Director of Athletics who will continue to promote core values for our student athletes and all who work at and support our University,” Syverud said in the release.

The search committee has taken the first steps in conducting “a comprehensive search” for the AD, Ballentine said. “We look forward to seeking out the best possible candidates to lead University athletics and, most importantly, guide and support our student-athletes as they come to Syracuse University to strive for excellence in academics and success in their sport.”