Wildhack Cites "Passion Play" in Return to Syracuse
7/12/2016 12:19:00 PM | General
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – "This is a passion play."
John Wildhack's short answer to why he would leave his lengthy tenure at ESPN for Syracuse said it all. Accepting the position of director of athletics at his alma mater was all about coming home to Syracuse.
"It was a 'we' decision," said Wildhack, during a press conference in the football auditorium of the Iocolano-Petty Footbally Wing, referencing the discussions he had with his family. "We are so excited to join the Central New York Community and we look forward to being here for a long, long, long time."Â
Wildhack was introduced at the press conference by University Chancellor Kent Syverud, who chaired the search committee.
"Today I take great pride in introducing a new leader for all of us – a new director of athletics, John Wildhack," said Chancellor Syverud. "He's a dedicated leader whose ability to motivate and inspire a team lifted the entire ESPN organization for decades.
"John brings boundless energy, knowledge, and intuition to the most critical position in Syracuse Athletics.
"He also brings a wonderful element of humility and humanity," added Chancellor Syverud. "From our conversations it is clear that he understands the difficulties and challenges faced by student-athletes in this century. He wants their experience to be one in which they learn first, in which they grow, in which they become better citizens and better human beings.
"I grew up in Irondequoit, outside Rochester," noted Chancellor Syverud. "I was shaped by what I can only describe as an Upstate ethic of hard work and loyalty to where you're from. In speaking with John, I felt that same quality." Â
Wildhack's passion for Syracuse athletics was cultivated during his undergraduate days. A 1980 alumnus of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, he has fond memories of attending football games at old Archbold Stadium and basketball contests in Manley Field House. Wildhack also remembers when the Carrier Dome opened.
He was joined at the event by his wife, Amy, and sons Tommy and James . His oldest son, M.J. couldn't attend because "he's working at home in Connecticut, as he should."
"My sons are die-hard Syracuse fans. My wife, Amy, went to Rollins College, but she has adopted Orange."Â
There's plenty of Orange in the Wildhack family tree. Wildhack introduced his sister, Linda, and his brother, Henry, both Syracuse alumni. His sister-in-law, Teresa, a doctoral candidate at Syracuse, was on hand as well.
"I would like to thank the Chancellor, the search committee and the athletic department," said Wildhack. "I'm proud, honored and very humbled to be chosen as your next athletics director.
"As part of this process, one of the things I enjoyed doing the most was getting to know the Chancellor. His vision for the University is incredibly exciting. I've enjoyed getting to know him as a person. He grew up in Irondequoit, as he said, and I grew up in Buffalo. We just had that Upstate New York connection there that's very, very unique."
Wildhack is completing a 36-year tenure at ESPN. He is the executive vice president for programming and production and has been responsible for 50,000 hours of content annually. He started at ESPN as a production assistant in 1980 and subsequently served in a number of production positions, including production assistant, associate producer, senior associate producer, producer, coordinating producer and director of event productions.
"It's important for me to thank John Skipper, the President of ESPN, and my team at ESPN. He is a great leader for ESPN and he's been a great colleague, a great mentor, and a friend of mine. I am eternally grateful for his support and the support of all of my ESPN colleagues."
Wildhack closed his opening statement with enthusiasm.
"I'm honored, I'm humbled, and I cannot wait to get started."
John Wildhack's short answer to why he would leave his lengthy tenure at ESPN for Syracuse said it all. Accepting the position of director of athletics at his alma mater was all about coming home to Syracuse.
"It was a 'we' decision," said Wildhack, during a press conference in the football auditorium of the Iocolano-Petty Footbally Wing, referencing the discussions he had with his family. "We are so excited to join the Central New York Community and we look forward to being here for a long, long, long time."Â
Wildhack was introduced at the press conference by University Chancellor Kent Syverud, who chaired the search committee.
"Today I take great pride in introducing a new leader for all of us – a new director of athletics, John Wildhack," said Chancellor Syverud. "He's a dedicated leader whose ability to motivate and inspire a team lifted the entire ESPN organization for decades.
"John brings boundless energy, knowledge, and intuition to the most critical position in Syracuse Athletics.
"He also brings a wonderful element of humility and humanity," added Chancellor Syverud. "From our conversations it is clear that he understands the difficulties and challenges faced by student-athletes in this century. He wants their experience to be one in which they learn first, in which they grow, in which they become better citizens and better human beings.
"I grew up in Irondequoit, outside Rochester," noted Chancellor Syverud. "I was shaped by what I can only describe as an Upstate ethic of hard work and loyalty to where you're from. In speaking with John, I felt that same quality." Â
Wildhack's passion for Syracuse athletics was cultivated during his undergraduate days. A 1980 alumnus of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, he has fond memories of attending football games at old Archbold Stadium and basketball contests in Manley Field House. Wildhack also remembers when the Carrier Dome opened.
He was joined at the event by his wife, Amy, and sons Tommy and James . His oldest son, M.J. couldn't attend because "he's working at home in Connecticut, as he should."
"My sons are die-hard Syracuse fans. My wife, Amy, went to Rollins College, but she has adopted Orange."Â
There's plenty of Orange in the Wildhack family tree. Wildhack introduced his sister, Linda, and his brother, Henry, both Syracuse alumni. His sister-in-law, Teresa, a doctoral candidate at Syracuse, was on hand as well.
"I would like to thank the Chancellor, the search committee and the athletic department," said Wildhack. "I'm proud, honored and very humbled to be chosen as your next athletics director.
"As part of this process, one of the things I enjoyed doing the most was getting to know the Chancellor. His vision for the University is incredibly exciting. I've enjoyed getting to know him as a person. He grew up in Irondequoit, as he said, and I grew up in Buffalo. We just had that Upstate New York connection there that's very, very unique."
Wildhack is completing a 36-year tenure at ESPN. He is the executive vice president for programming and production and has been responsible for 50,000 hours of content annually. He started at ESPN as a production assistant in 1980 and subsequently served in a number of production positions, including production assistant, associate producer, senior associate producer, producer, coordinating producer and director of event productions.
"It's important for me to thank John Skipper, the President of ESPN, and my team at ESPN. He is a great leader for ESPN and he's been a great colleague, a great mentor, and a friend of mine. I am eternally grateful for his support and the support of all of my ESPN colleagues."
Wildhack closed his opening statement with enthusiasm.
"I'm honored, I'm humbled, and I cannot wait to get started."
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