John Wildhack announces retirement as athletic director

Syracuse University Athletic Director John Wildhack announced his retirement on Wednesday after ten years of leading Orange athletics. 

“It has been the greatest honor of my career to lead Syracuse Athletics for the past decade,” Wildack said in an email. 

He will retire on July 1. The 1980 SU graduate returned to Syracuse in 2016 to lead the athletic department. In his email, he thanked “Syracuse Nation” and said the community was powerful and supportive. 

“It has been the greatest honor of my career to lead Syracuse Athletics for the past decade, and I want to thank you—our fans, donors, ticket holders and supporters—for making my time at the helm of Syracuse Athletics so meaningful and rewarding,” Wildhack said. 

His career is highlighted by several achievements, including the remodeled JMA Wireless Dome, developing the John Lally Athletics Complex and the men’s soccer national title in 2022.

“But none of this would have been possible without you,” Wildhack said. “You are the foundation of everything we’ve built.” 

Wildhack said in a football press conference in September that despite Chancellor Kent Syverud’s announced departure, he had no intention of leaving. 

Despite not knowing his successor, Wildhack said he is confident the department will be well taken care of.

“I know they will find an outstanding leader to take our program to even greater heights,” Wildhack said.