Actually everyone on the board should print signs we don't want lyke and demonstrate this weekend.
That would definitely get the attention of the
higher ups, and maybe force them to send her packing.
SU Athletic Director Candidates
- Thread starter Sherman20
- Start date
That would definitely get the attention of the
higher ups, and maybe force them to send her packing.
Bill Orange
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Army extended his contract a couple of weeks ago.
BillSU
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Tom Theodorakis
Theodorakis’ first spring as Director of Athletics was marked by two department-wide achievements. On April 12 2025, Army West Point clinched the overall Star Series Presented by USAA, besting rival Navy for the first time in the all-sport competition for the first time since 2013-14.
In May 2025, the Black Knights were named Patriot League Presidents’ Cup winners, finishing the 2024-25 academic year as the best overall Patriot League institution athletically, based on points awarded across a combination of an institution's regular-season and tournament finishes in each sport.
Under Tom Theodorakis’ leadership, Army West Point partnered with Levy to elevate concessions and premium hospitality across all athletic venues, including the first-ever sale of alcoholic beverages at Michie Stadium, enhancing the fan experience as part of the Michie Stadium Preservation Project. Army and Levy's partnership debuted for the 2025 football season.
Theodorakis was previously promoted to Army West Point's Deputy Athletics Director, External Operations & Chief Revenue Officer in 2024.
As both AD and Deputy AD, Theodorakis has spearheaded the Michie Stadium Preservation Project, a complete transformation of the venue’s east stands to ensure the most inspirational game day atmosphere in the country continues.
He came to West Point as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations in July 2022. Throughout this time, he worked closely with former Athletic Director Mike Buddie as a member of Army Athletics' senior staff.
During his time as Deputy AD at West Point, Theodorakis led all external units for Army West Point Athletics which included the areas of Development (in the context of a $600M comprehensive campaign for the Academy), Strategic Communication (athletic communications, digital and social strategies, creative and video services, and broadcasting), Licensing and Branding, and Business Development & Revenue Generation (Marketing, Fan engagement, Ticketing, Ticket Sales, and Sponsorships).
Theodorakis previously served on the Athletics Director’s Senior Leadership Team and Executive Staff and as the Sport Administrator for the Men’s Basketball and Men’s Lacrosse programs at Army. He also serves as a member of the Army-Navy Steering Committee that bids, organizes, and executes America’s most traditional and enduring rivalry game in the sport of Football.
Theodorakis arrived at the United States Military Academy in July 2022 as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations, with over 16 years of college athletics experience at the NCAA Division I level as an administrator, coach, and national champion student-athlete.
Before coming to the banks of the Hudson River, Theodorakis served as the Senior Associate Director of Development at Harvard University since 2021. At Harvard, he developed and implemented strategies in partnership with institutional leadership and served in a management role as a member of the athletics external leadership and revenue generation team, focusing on all external facets, including development, marketing, branding, licensing, broadcast, corporate sponsorships, and ticket sales.
Before his time at Harvard, Theodorakis spent six years at Arizona as the Associate Athletics Director for Development. While at Arizona, Theodorakis led a staff that contributed to over $67M in capital campaign support and served in several key leadership roles on the senior staff, sport administration, and revenue generation units. Theodorakis was responsible for strategic planning of revenue generation, focusing on all external facets of athletics, and was also a sports administrator for several varsity programs. Theodorakis also worked on several other initiatives, including health and wellness and COVID-19 emergency response, among others.
Theodorakis was previously at UCLA, where he served as the Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs and supervised the day-to-day operations of the development office. He was integral in producing exponential growth in Westwood with the groundbreaking of two comprehensive training centers, the Wasserman Football Center and the Mo Ostin Basketball Center.
Before UCLA, Theodorakis spent five years in a first stint at Arizona as Assistant Athletics Director for Development. He was an important part of two major capital campaigns undertaken by Arizona Athletics, the state-of-the-art Lowell-Stevens Football Facility and Phase 1 of the McKale Center Renovation Project, while also serving as the Pac-12 conference representative for NACDA. Before Arizona, Theodorakis worked in the Marketing and Development office at the United States Air Force Academy and was a volunteer coach on the men's lacrosse team.
Theodorakis earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Syracuse University in 2006, where he was a four-year letter winner and member of the 2004 national champion men’s lacrosse team. He received his master’s degree in sport administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 2008. He is also a graduate of the Sports Management Institute (SMI) Executive Program and attended instruction at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Education Leadership at Arizona, focusing his dissertation on student-veterans in higher education, and was the recipient of the Distinguished Leadership Fellowship Award.
Theodorakis and his wife, Robyn, a former collegiate swimmer at Arizona State, have a daughter, Olivia.
- Title: Director of Athletics
- Email: athleticdirector@westpoint.edu
Theodorakis’ first spring as Director of Athletics was marked by two department-wide achievements. On April 12 2025, Army West Point clinched the overall Star Series Presented by USAA, besting rival Navy for the first time in the all-sport competition for the first time since 2013-14.
In May 2025, the Black Knights were named Patriot League Presidents’ Cup winners, finishing the 2024-25 academic year as the best overall Patriot League institution athletically, based on points awarded across a combination of an institution's regular-season and tournament finishes in each sport.
Under Tom Theodorakis’ leadership, Army West Point partnered with Levy to elevate concessions and premium hospitality across all athletic venues, including the first-ever sale of alcoholic beverages at Michie Stadium, enhancing the fan experience as part of the Michie Stadium Preservation Project. Army and Levy's partnership debuted for the 2025 football season.
Theodorakis was previously promoted to Army West Point's Deputy Athletics Director, External Operations & Chief Revenue Officer in 2024.
As both AD and Deputy AD, Theodorakis has spearheaded the Michie Stadium Preservation Project, a complete transformation of the venue’s east stands to ensure the most inspirational game day atmosphere in the country continues.
He came to West Point as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations in July 2022. Throughout this time, he worked closely with former Athletic Director Mike Buddie as a member of Army Athletics' senior staff.
During his time as Deputy AD at West Point, Theodorakis led all external units for Army West Point Athletics which included the areas of Development (in the context of a $600M comprehensive campaign for the Academy), Strategic Communication (athletic communications, digital and social strategies, creative and video services, and broadcasting), Licensing and Branding, and Business Development & Revenue Generation (Marketing, Fan engagement, Ticketing, Ticket Sales, and Sponsorships).
Theodorakis previously served on the Athletics Director’s Senior Leadership Team and Executive Staff and as the Sport Administrator for the Men’s Basketball and Men’s Lacrosse programs at Army. He also serves as a member of the Army-Navy Steering Committee that bids, organizes, and executes America’s most traditional and enduring rivalry game in the sport of Football.
Theodorakis arrived at the United States Military Academy in July 2022 as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Operations, with over 16 years of college athletics experience at the NCAA Division I level as an administrator, coach, and national champion student-athlete.
Before coming to the banks of the Hudson River, Theodorakis served as the Senior Associate Director of Development at Harvard University since 2021. At Harvard, he developed and implemented strategies in partnership with institutional leadership and served in a management role as a member of the athletics external leadership and revenue generation team, focusing on all external facets, including development, marketing, branding, licensing, broadcast, corporate sponsorships, and ticket sales.
Before his time at Harvard, Theodorakis spent six years at Arizona as the Associate Athletics Director for Development. While at Arizona, Theodorakis led a staff that contributed to over $67M in capital campaign support and served in several key leadership roles on the senior staff, sport administration, and revenue generation units. Theodorakis was responsible for strategic planning of revenue generation, focusing on all external facets of athletics, and was also a sports administrator for several varsity programs. Theodorakis also worked on several other initiatives, including health and wellness and COVID-19 emergency response, among others.
Theodorakis was previously at UCLA, where he served as the Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs and supervised the day-to-day operations of the development office. He was integral in producing exponential growth in Westwood with the groundbreaking of two comprehensive training centers, the Wasserman Football Center and the Mo Ostin Basketball Center.
Before UCLA, Theodorakis spent five years in a first stint at Arizona as Assistant Athletics Director for Development. He was an important part of two major capital campaigns undertaken by Arizona Athletics, the state-of-the-art Lowell-Stevens Football Facility and Phase 1 of the McKale Center Renovation Project, while also serving as the Pac-12 conference representative for NACDA. Before Arizona, Theodorakis worked in the Marketing and Development office at the United States Air Force Academy and was a volunteer coach on the men's lacrosse team.
Theodorakis earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Syracuse University in 2006, where he was a four-year letter winner and member of the 2004 national champion men’s lacrosse team. He received his master’s degree in sport administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 2008. He is also a graduate of the Sports Management Institute (SMI) Executive Program and attended instruction at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Education Leadership at Arizona, focusing his dissertation on student-veterans in higher education, and was the recipient of the Distinguished Leadership Fellowship Award.
Theodorakis and his wife, Robyn, a former collegiate swimmer at Arizona State, have a daughter, Olivia.
kingtidge
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Didn't he just sign a longterm contract extension with Army??
OrangeXtreme
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Reggie Terry?
EnviroSciGuy
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Possibly; he has been reported elsewhere as the final interviewee.
FloridaCuse
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I DO NOT LIKE THE SOUND OF THIS. Has this been reported on here? I haven't seen it. "Could" be a BAD sign. On the other hand, she may have written it and forced them to issue it. Or something worse.
“The characterizations in The Daily Orange article do not reflect the environment we have built in Syracuse Athletics. Heather Lyke has been a valued partner in our Athletics Department, and any suggestion that her presence has created confusion or dysfunction is simply not accurate. The University’s own Human Resources review found no policy violation, and that conclusion is consistent with my own experience working alongside her. I am proud of the work our staff does every day and remain focused on the continued success of our student-athletes and department.”
-Director of Athletics John Wildhack
“Heather Lyke was brought to Syracuse University to drive meaningful transformation in our Athletics Department. That kind of work is difficult and is not always welcomed by everyone. Growth and change can be uncomfortable, but that is very different from a policy violation, and it should not be confused with misconduct. Publishing anonymous and unsubstantiated allegations does a disservice to the dedicated professionals in our Athletics Department and to the integrity of the Human Resources process itself. Every workplace concern brought to the University’s attention is taken seriously. The University’s review found no misconduct and no interference by anyone. I am confident not only in how this matter was handled, but also in Heather Lyke.”
-Chancellor Kent Syverud
news.syr.edu
I first saw this reported in a tweet by the site D1.ticker, whatever that is --
University Leadership Response to a March 2, 2026, Article Published in The Daily Orange Regarding Heather Lyke
March 3, 2026“The characterizations in The Daily Orange article do not reflect the environment we have built in Syracuse Athletics. Heather Lyke has been a valued partner in our Athletics Department, and any suggestion that her presence has created confusion or dysfunction is simply not accurate. The University’s own Human Resources review found no policy violation, and that conclusion is consistent with my own experience working alongside her. I am proud of the work our staff does every day and remain focused on the continued success of our student-athletes and department.”
-Director of Athletics John Wildhack
“Heather Lyke was brought to Syracuse University to drive meaningful transformation in our Athletics Department. That kind of work is difficult and is not always welcomed by everyone. Growth and change can be uncomfortable, but that is very different from a policy violation, and it should not be confused with misconduct. Publishing anonymous and unsubstantiated allegations does a disservice to the dedicated professionals in our Athletics Department and to the integrity of the Human Resources process itself. Every workplace concern brought to the University’s attention is taken seriously. The University’s review found no misconduct and no interference by anyone. I am confident not only in how this matter was handled, but also in Heather Lyke.”
-Chancellor Kent Syverud
University Leadership Response to a March 2, 2026, Article Published in The Daily Orange Regarding Heather Lyke
University Leadership Response to a March 2, 2026, Article Published in The Daily Orange Regarding Heather Lyke “The characterizations in The Daily Orange article do not reflect the environment we have built in Syracuse Athletics. Heather Lyke has been a valued partner in our Athletics...
news.syr.edu
I first saw this reported in a tweet by the site D1.ticker, whatever that is --
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PauliePeppas
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phil77
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Right choice at the right time. 1 down and 1 to go. All you can do is make the right choice and hope it works out.
Frozen
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From your lips to God’s ears.
Cusefan69
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Bill Orange
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Not surprising.I DO NOT LIKE THE SOUND OF THIS. Has this been reported on here? I haven't seen it. "Could" be a BAD sign. On the other hand, she may have written it and forced them to issue it. Or something worse.
University Leadership Response to a March 2, 2026, Article Published in The Daily Orange Regarding Heather Lyke
March 3, 2026
“The characterizations in The Daily Orange article do not reflect the environment we have built in Syracuse Athletics. Heather Lyke has been a valued partner in our Athletics Department, and any suggestion that her presence has created confusion or dysfunction is simply not accurate. The University’s own Human Resources review found no policy violation, and that conclusion is consistent with my own experience working alongside her. I am proud of the work our staff does every day and remain focused on the continued success of our student-athletes and department.”
-Director of Athletics John Wildhack
“Heather Lyke was brought to Syracuse University to drive meaningful transformation in our Athletics Department. That kind of work is difficult and is not always welcomed by everyone. Growth and change can be uncomfortable, but that is very different from a policy violation, and it should not be confused with misconduct. Publishing anonymous and unsubstantiated allegations does a disservice to the dedicated professionals in our Athletics Department and to the integrity of the Human Resources process itself. Every workplace concern brought to the University’s attention is taken seriously. The University’s review found no misconduct and no interference by anyone. I am confident not only in how this matter was handled, but also in Heather Lyke.”
-Chancellor Kent Syverud
University Leadership Response to a March 2, 2026, Article Published in The Daily Orange Regarding Heather Lyke
University Leadership Response to a March 2, 2026, Article Published in The Daily Orange Regarding Heather Lyke “The characterizations in The Daily Orange article do not reflect the environment we have built in Syracuse Athletics. Heather Lyke has been a valued partner in our Athletics...
I first saw this reported in a tweet by the site D1.ticker, whatever that is --
They’re circling the wagons.
Hawknate144
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This reads as academic mumbo jumbo meant to try and deflect from the issues, Wildhack is covering his ass to help dispel rumors that it was him who leaked it and Kent hired her, so I would expect nothing different.I DO NOT LIKE THE SOUND OF THIS. Has this been reported on here? I haven't seen it. "Could" be a BAD sign. On the other hand, she may have written it and forced them to issue it. Or something worse.
University Leadership Response to a March 2, 2026, Article Published in The Daily Orange Regarding Heather Lyke
March 3, 2026
“The characterizations in The Daily Orange article do not reflect the environment we have built in Syracuse Athletics. Heather Lyke has been a valued partner in our Athletics Department, and any suggestion that her presence has created confusion or dysfunction is simply not accurate. The University’s own Human Resources review found no policy violation, and that conclusion is consistent with my own experience working alongside her. I am proud of the work our staff does every day and remain focused on the continued success of our student-athletes and department.”
-Director of Athletics John Wildhack
“Heather Lyke was brought to Syracuse University to drive meaningful transformation in our Athletics Department. That kind of work is difficult and is not always welcomed by everyone. Growth and change can be uncomfortable, but that is very different from a policy violation, and it should not be confused with misconduct. Publishing anonymous and unsubstantiated allegations does a disservice to the dedicated professionals in our Athletics Department and to the integrity of the Human Resources process itself. Every workplace concern brought to the University’s attention is taken seriously. The University’s review found no misconduct and no interference by anyone. I am confident not only in how this matter was handled, but also in Heather Lyke.”
-Chancellor Kent Syverud
University Leadership Response to a March 2, 2026, Article Published in The Daily Orange Regarding Heather Lyke
University Leadership Response to a March 2, 2026, Article Published in The Daily Orange Regarding Heather Lyke “The characterizations in The Daily Orange article do not reflect the environment we have built in Syracuse Athletics. Heather Lyke has been a valued partner in our Athletics...
I first saw this reported in a tweet by the site D1.ticker, whatever that is --
Sherman20
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CYA all the way!I DO NOT LIKE THE SOUND OF THIS. Has this been reported on here? I haven't seen it. "Could" be a BAD sign. On the other hand, she may have written it and forced them to issue it. Or something worse.
University Leadership Response to a March 2, 2026, Article Published in The Daily Orange Regarding Heather Lyke
March 3, 2026
“The characterizations in The Daily Orange article do not reflect the environment we have built in Syracuse Athletics. Heather Lyke has been a valued partner in our Athletics Department, and any suggestion that her presence has created confusion or dysfunction is simply not accurate. The University’s own Human Resources review found no policy violation, and that conclusion is consistent with my own experience working alongside her. I am proud of the work our staff does every day and remain focused on the continued success of our student-athletes and department.”
-Director of Athletics John Wildhack
“Heather Lyke was brought to Syracuse University to drive meaningful transformation in our Athletics Department. That kind of work is difficult and is not always welcomed by everyone. Growth and change can be uncomfortable, but that is very different from a policy violation, and it should not be confused with misconduct. Publishing anonymous and unsubstantiated allegations does a disservice to the dedicated professionals in our Athletics Department and to the integrity of the Human Resources process itself. Every workplace concern brought to the University’s attention is taken seriously. The University’s review found no misconduct and no interference by anyone. I am confident not only in how this matter was handled, but also in Heather Lyke.”
-Chancellor Kent Syverud
University Leadership Response to a March 2, 2026, Article Published in The Daily Orange Regarding Heather Lyke
University Leadership Response to a March 2, 2026, Article Published in The Daily Orange Regarding Heather Lyke “The characterizations in The Daily Orange article do not reflect the environment we have built in Syracuse Athletics. Heather Lyke has been a valued partner in our Athletics...
I first saw this reported in a tweet by the site D1.ticker, whatever that is --
phil77
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I DO NOT LIKE THE SOUND OF THIS. Has this been reported on here? I haven't seen it. "Could" be a BAD sign. On the other hand, she may have written it and forced them to issue it. Or something worse.
University Leadership Response to a March 2, 2026, Article Published in The Daily Orange Regarding Heather Lyke
March 3, 2026
“The characterizations in The Daily Orange article do not reflect the environment we have built in Syracuse Athletics. Heather Lyke has been a valued partner in our Athletics Department, and any suggestion that her presence has created confusion or dysfunction is simply not accurate. The University’s own Human Resources review found no policy violation, and that conclusion is consistent with my own experience working alongside her. I am proud of the work our staff does every day and remain focused on the continued success of our student-athletes and department.”
-Director of Athletics John Wildhack
“Heather Lyke was brought to Syracuse University to drive meaningful transformation in our Athletics Department. That kind of work is difficult and is not always welcomed by everyone. Growth and change can be uncomfortable, but that is very different from a policy violation, and it should not be confused with misconduct. Publishing anonymous and unsubstantiated allegations does a disservice to the dedicated professionals in our Athletics Department and to the integrity of the Human Resources process itself. Every workplace concern brought to the University’s attention is taken seriously. The University’s review found no misconduct and no interference by anyone. I am confident not only in how this matter was handled, but also in Heather Lyke.”
-Chancellor Kent Syverud
University Leadership Response to a March 2, 2026, Article Published in The Daily Orange Regarding Heather Lyke
University Leadership Response to a March 2, 2026, Article Published in The Daily Orange Regarding Heather Lyke “The characterizations in The Daily Orange article do not reflect the environment we have built in Syracuse Athletics. Heather Lyke has been a valued partner in our Athletics...
I first saw this reported in a tweet by the site D1.ticker, whatever that is --
This is standard administration damage control response. ChatGPT put this out 100%.
Cusefan69
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Hawknate144
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this reads similar to when John Love apologized to the marching band in Nov 2024.
OrangeXtreme
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Syverud:
"I made a hire earlier this year that I am deeply ashamed of. If I have hurt anyone out there, I can't tell you how much I say from the bottom of my heart, I'm so very, very sorry. I pride myself and think of myself as a man of faith—as there's a drive into deep left field by Castellanos, it will be a home run, and so that'll make it a 4–0 ballgame."
"I made a hire earlier this year that I am deeply ashamed of. If I have hurt anyone out there, I can't tell you how much I say from the bottom of my heart, I'm so very, very sorry. I pride myself and think of myself as a man of faith—as there's a drive into deep left field by Castellanos, it will be a home run, and so that'll make it a 4–0 ballgame."
FloridaCuse
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Pitt AD set for challenge in taking on athletic department issues
02.16.2026Pitt AD Allen Greene is “responsible for fixing” an athletic department “in shambles” after former AD Heather Lyke was fired in September 2024 and left “quite the mess behind,” according to Noah Hiles of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. 2026 will “undoubtedly be a challenging year” for Pitt’s athletic department. Lyke’s “inability to appropriately allocate resources toward what actually mattered has brought Pitt to where it is now.” Her “most notable misstep” was the Victory Heights initiative, an “ambitious multi-sport facility that would serve as a replacement to the aging Fitzgerald Field House.” Lyke signed up for a $240M project with “little to no funding secured beforehand.” Meanwhile, the football team is “losing some of its top players in the transfer portal.” The men’s basketball team is “unwatchable,” while the women’s team is “equally bad and is allegedly an even a bigger issue off the court.” Some non-revenue sports “might not be around much longer.” Over the next year, Greene will “be the one forced to make a series of tough decisions, ones that will, at least temporarily, make him an unpopular man.” Football and men’s basketball “have to improve,” but that “doesn’t happen without better players.” Greene “must decide the future of his men’s and women’s basketball programs,” as “both head coaches deserve to be fired.” For the “foreseeable future, Greene will have to be the bad guy.” But the “most overwhelming criticism surrounding Greene is visibility.” He is “rarely in the spotlight” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 2/14).
Pitt AD set for challenge in taking on athletic department issues
Pitt AD Allen Greene is responsible for fixing an athletic department in shambles after former AD Heather Lyke was fired in September 2024 and left quite the mess behind.
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com
PauliePeppas
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Pitt AD set for challenge in taking on athletic department issues
02.16.2026
Pitt AD Allen Greene is “responsible for fixing” an athletic department “in shambles” after former AD Heather Lyke was fired in September 2024 and left “quite the mess behind,” according to Noah Hiles of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. 2026 will “undoubtedly be a challenging year” for Pitt’s athletic department. Lyke’s “inability to appropriately allocate resources toward what actually mattered has brought Pitt to where it is now.” Her “most notable misstep” was the Victory Heights initiative, an “ambitious multi-sport facility that would serve as a replacement to the aging Fitzgerald Field House.” Lyke signed up for a $240M project with “little to no funding secured beforehand.” Meanwhile, the football team is “losing some of its top players in the transfer portal.” The men’s basketball team is “unwatchable,” while the women’s team is “equally bad and is allegedly an even a bigger issue off the court.” Some non-revenue sports “might not be around much longer.” Over the next year, Greene will “be the one forced to make a series of tough decisions, ones that will, at least temporarily, make him an unpopular man.” Football and men’s basketball “have to improve,” but that “doesn’t happen without better players.” Greene “must decide the future of his men’s and women’s basketball programs,” as “both head coaches deserve to be fired.” For the “foreseeable future, Greene will have to be the bad guy.” But the “most overwhelming criticism surrounding Greene is visibility.” He is “rarely in the spotlight” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 2/14).
Pitt AD set for challenge in taking on athletic department issues
Pitt AD Allen Greene is responsible for fixing an athletic department in shambles after former AD Heather Lyke was fired in September 2024 and left quite the mess behind.
Willy75
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SU is trying to put the genie back in the bottle. May work if Lyke is not hired; if she is this becomes a national story (for a time at least) and detracts from the good vibes of Haynie's elevation.
Question also how good it looks for Syverud to have hired Lyke in the first place given the athletics department situation he's moving into at Michigan.
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