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Message: [QUOTE="BillSU, post: 1808730"] By [URL='http://connect.syracuse.com/staff/chriscarlson/posts.html'][U]Chris Carlson | ccarlson@syracuse.com [/U][/URL]The Post-Standard on July 06, 2016 at 11:00 AM, updated July 06, 2016 at 1:33 PM [URL='http://www.syracuse.com/orangesports/index.ssf/2016/07/syracuse_hires_espn_executive_john_wildhack_as_new_athletic_director.html#comments'][U]comments[/U][/URL] Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse University will hire ESPN executive John Wildhack as the school's new athletic director, responding to Mark Coyle's abbreviated tenure by bringing in an alumnus with tight ties to the school. Wildhack was previously working as ESPN's vice president for programming and production, and has significant experience in both areas with the company. From 2004 to 2012, he oversaw ESPN's rights negotiations, cutting deals with the SEC, ACC, NBA, Major League Baseball and numerous other organizations. A Buffalo native, graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and a member of the David Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamic advisory board, Wildhack's connections seem to guarantee he'll stick around longer than Coyle's 11 months. Wildhack also has the Central New York ties that many often felt previous former athletic director Daryl Gross lacked. While the hiring seems to supply Syracuse with an incredibly savvy sports business mind, Wildhack does not have prior experience in athletic administration or compliance. "John is an entrepreneurial, outside-the-box leader who brings an unparalleled set of skills and experiences to the director of athletics position," Chancellor Kent Syverud said. "As a leader at ESPN, he has demonstrated a keen ability to identify and implement strategies aimed at elevating the entire organization. That record of success, combined with his extensive history of building and inspiring teams, will allow him to immediately and positively impact the lives of our student-athletes. This is a new day in the life of the Department of Athletics. I look forward to watching John, in collaboration with our talented coaches and staff, bring his bold vision for the department to life." [/QUOTE]

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