From the Chancellors' letter...
Dr. Gross cares deeply about our University, our students-athletes, and the Athletics Department. Under his leadership, Syracuse Athletics has had strong and broad success. He led the University into the ACC, a stellar conference renowned for both its athletics competition and academic success. He hired an outstanding set of coaches, increased Athletics’ fundraising to its highest levels, and invested in an exceptional array of new student-athlete facilities. His branding efforts were an important component of the invitation to join the ACC and have raised the University’s profile in New York City and other key national regions. Overall, under his leadership, thousands of student-athletes have succeeded in competition, in the classroom, and in the world as proud Syracuse alumni.
As part of my discussions with him, Dr. Gross has asked to conclude his tenure as Director of Athletics and transition to a new role at the University that can benefit from his background and experience in the areas of marketing and advancement. He believes this transition will allow SU Athletics to move forward and position itself for continued future success. Effective today, Dr. Gross will serve as Vice President and Special Assistant to the Chancellor, and adjunct professor in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. Dr. Gross has
embraced this opportunity and we look forward to his continued contributions.
I have appointed Peter Sala, Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Facilities and the Managing Director of the Carrier Dome, to serve as Interim Director of Athletics. I am grateful that Floyd Little, Special Assistant to the Athletics Director, has agreed to counsel and assist Peter through this term as Interim Director.
Steve Ballentine, who is a Board of Trustees member and serves on the Board’s Athletics Committee, will chair a small committee to assist the University in the search for a new Director of Athletics. This committee will include: Trustee Robert Miron, Chairman of the Board’s Athletics Committee; Lavonda Reed, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs; Interim Athletics Director Sala; Barry Wells, Special Assistant to the Chancellor; a representative head coach; faculty and student representatives; and a representative from the Office of University Counsel which oversees Athletic Compliance. I will also be asking the committee to review and recommend organizational and structural changes with a focus on further enhancing the overall student-athlete experience including the possible creation of a new senior-level position to manage all department operations.
