John Wildhack Press Conference Transcript
Syracuse University Press Conference
July 12, 2016
Athletic Director John Wildhack
Opening statement:
“Thank you. It is great to be home. It is awesome to be here and to be home. It’s truly one of the more special days in my life. A special thanks to a few people who helped in this transition process for me: Dan French, Kevin Quinn, Sue Edson and Mary Kelly. They have been tremendous in fast-starting my coming-on-board process.
I do want to introduce my family, who is here: my oldest sister, Linda, a Syracuse grad; brother Henry, a Syracuse grad; sister-in-law Theresa, a doctoral candidate as Chancellor (Syverud) said; sons Tommy and James, who are diehard Syracuse fans; my wife Amy. Now Amy went to Rollins College, but she has adopted Orange. She had no choice. My son M.J., he’s 25 and he’s working at home in Connecticut as he should. My nephew Shawn and Rob who we are very close to and are Syracuse graduates.
My family has been awesome through this process. Amy and the boys have been so supportive. One of the things that we decided when we talked about as a family, that I’ve referenced many times with the Chancellor, is that this has to be a ‘We’ decision, not a ‘Me’ decision. This is not a ‘Me’ decision, but a ‘We’ decision. I can tell you, we are so excited to join the Central New York community and we look forward to being here for a long, long, long time.
I would like to thank the Chancellor, the search committee and the athletic department. I am proud, honored and very humbled to have been chosen as your next Athletics Director. As part of this process, one of the things I enjoyed doing the most is getting to know the Chancellor. His vision for the university is incredibly exciting. The campus framework – he’s been transformative for this university for our students. The renovation of the (Carrier) Dome, the building of the Arch can be a great resource for all students at Syracuse University.
The other thing I’ve enjoyed is just getting to know the Chancellor 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.
It’s important for me to thank John Skipper, the President of ESPN, and my team at ESPN. John has been incredibly supportive throughout this process. 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.
Syracuse Athletics is in a position of strength. We are coming off a tremendous year. We were a very significant contributor to the success of the ACC, one of the power-five conferences. We come off a year featuring national championships in cross country and field hockey, national championship appearance by Coach Q (Quentin Hillsman) and the women’s (basketball) team, and Final Four appearances from women’s lacrosse, men’s basketball and men’s soccer in the College Cup. That is incredibly impressive. Equally as impressive and equally as important is that we had a great year academically. Sixty-three percent of our student-athletes have a GPA of 3.00 or better. Sixty-three percent. Eleven of our teams have a perfect APR of 1,000. I’ve learned quickly that we have a remarkable group of student-athletes on this campus. We should be incredibly proud of their accomplishments, not only on the playing field but also in the classroom.
My staff and I will build on our strengths. Our objective is to have an environment where our student-athletes maximize their performance and their potential in the classroom and the playing field. We want to prepare them for future success in whatever field or whatever they choose and wherever they choose to do it. We want them to be proud alumni of Syracuse University and be great representatives of Syracuse University. Crucial to that success of our student-athletes are our head coaches and their staffs. I have quickly learned that we have a great group of head coaches who are deeply committed to our student-athletes, the University and the community. My staff and I look forward to building success and working with all of our coaches to ensure that we create a foundation that sustains success, both academically and athletically.
We have a terrific staff in the athletic department. Our department will be defined by integrity, a passion for all things Syracuse – the University, the student-athletes, all students, the community and region. A group that collaborates amongst each other in all facets and all branches of the University. We want our program to be a point of pride for the entire University -- our students, our alumni, the community and Orange fans worldwide. When we win and when we have success, the credit we give to student-athletes and the coaches.
To our fans in Syracuse and the surrounding area, thank you for your support of the University and Syracuse Athletics. It is so important and impactful on our student-athletes and our coaches. I’m fortunate to have many great memories as a fan in the stands. Whether it was Archibold Stadium back in the ‘70s when I was an undergrad. I was there in September of 1980 when the Dome opened. Now most recently, my family and I enjoying basketball and football games in the Dome. I invite, and my staff invites, all Orange fans everywhere to come support all of our student-athletes.
I’m honored, I’m humbled and I cannot wait to get started. Thank you.”
Why is Syracuse a dream job for you?
“I think number one is my roots, being a native of Upstate New York, being an undergraduate here, being a proud alumnus of Syracuse, keeping a connection after graduation through the Newhouse School, through the Falk School. Central New York is incredibly important to me and to our family.
And I think the other thing is this will be the first move I'd made in 36 years, so that tells you I'm probably not the most transient person in the world, right? Secondly, as I look at my family, if I come to them any time soon and say 'what about a move?' they will all disown me. So I am here, I am proud to be here, and grateful.”
Do the plans for the Carrier Dome add to your excitement about the position?
“I think there's so much momentum across the entire University, you see the construction that's ongoing, you've got, as I mentioned, the Master Plan -- the Dome is part of that. So there's so much momentum. There's positive energy here. It's a great institution. It's a great institution. It's not only nationally known, it's internationally known. The one thing I've learned in my time at ESPN, the Syracuse brand -- how respected and how impactful that is. So, again, our best days as a University lie ahead.”
How did you like getting to know Coach Babers?
“I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Coach Babers in this process. One of the things that I'm most impressed about him is his defined philosophy -- a philosophy on offense, we are going to go spread, we're going to go fast and faster than anybody else. Defense – it’s the Tampa-2. When you have a philosophy, that then allows him and his staff to recruit the student athletes who can add success in those offensive and defensive philosophies.
The other thing is just his commitment to student athletes and the academic side was very, very impressive. When he was a hired, I had a number of our ESPN analysts reach out to me and say "great hire, he'll do a terrific job.' So I'm excited about working with Coach Babers.”
What defines a modern-day athletic director?
“That's for others I think to probably define. For me it is: A) the passion I have for this University, all facets of the University. B) I have had tremendous experience and very rewarding experience dealing with various conferences, dealing with the NCAA, et cetera. I think most important is the passion that I bring. I'll challenge my staff, you know, again, we're in a great place, how do you get better? And I will rely heavily on my staff. It's a very, very talented group. And I think collectively together, and I mentioned collaboration, we will collaborate as a staff and if we do that, and we do that with our colleagues across the University, we'll have success.”
What at Syracuse made you want to leave ESPN after 36 years?
“Well, I have had other opportunities to leave ESPN and very intriguing opportunities. But I always thought ESPN was the right place to stay. Part of this -- it's the big passion play. There's no question. I mean, you know the love that I have for this University is significant. The chance to come home, the chance to work with young people, and help young people develop and develop academically, develop athletically, to work with a talented group of coaches, that excites me. The support of my family. As I said, this is a ‘we’, not a ‘me’ decision. And throughout the process and Korn Ferry was terrific. Jed Hughes was awesome. What piqued my interest? On a Saturday I spent the morning with the Chancellor and other members of the search committee and when I walked out of that meeting, to myself I said, 'you know what, this is something that I want to pursue.' And then I went back and Amy and I and the boys, we talked about it the next morning, and we made the decision let's go for it. And things came together quickly.”
What does it look like to look out and see this auditorium filled with people welcoming you back?
“I'm not sure I can describe it. It's an awesome, awesome feeling. The one thing I will tell you, it feels so right. It feels so right.”
What is your relationship with Coach Jim Boeheim?
“I've had the pleasure of knowing Coach and Juli for a number of years. Jim grew up in a little town of Lyons, New York. My grandfather had a drugstore six miles down the Erie Canal. Jim used to go to my Grandfather’s drug store and have a little soda once in a while, a little root beer float, I think. And we've just gotten to know each other over the years. And we've not spent a lot of time together, but we both like to play golf, we're both mediocre, we used to be pretty good, now we're mediocre. But I've gotten to know Jim and Juli and have enjoyed their company. There's nobody that's more loyal and dedicated to the community than Juli and Jim.”
What tops your agenda at Syracuse?
“In terms of my first priority, it's really -- it's getting to know my staff. I think that's really, really important in establishing a personal connection with everybody in the athletic department, the senior staff, getting up to speed as quickly as I can, what are the opportunities, where are we great, where can we improve upon. Letting them get to know me as a person. I want to know them more than just as somebody who I work with, I want to get to know them as a person, what are they like, what are their interests outside of work, their families, et cetera, that type of thing. Really develop a connection with people. I think if you can do that, I think it's -- you create a culture and I think any successful organization has a defined and unique culture and that's what I want to work to try to create.”
What's your philosophy on balancing out the football schedule?
“I want to sit down with Coach Babers and get his perspective on it because obviously you want to compete at a high level, but you also want to put our student athletes in a position where they can have success as well.
Obviously the ACC is a competitive conference, in our division we have Clemson and Florida State, their recent success is well known, so we want to play Power Five, non-conference foes. I want to work with Coach Babers and schedule a way that is going to enable our student athletes to have success, and our coaching staff.”
Was the succession plan previously announced in men's basketball discussed with you?
“It was discussed briefly, and again, as you said, there was an announcement made last year, an agreement by all parties. Jim's commitment to Syracuse is second to none. Mike's (Hopkins) commitment to Syracuse is amazing as well. Mike's been incredibly loyal. So I look at it as there is a succession plan in place. What we want to do is we want to navigate that as effectively as we possibly can to ensure that we have the sustained, continued success of men's basketball, because I know how important that program is to the University, the community, and all Orange fans.”
July 12, 2016
Athletic Director John Wildhack
Opening statement:
“Thank you. It is great to be home. It is awesome to be here and to be home. It’s truly one of the more special days in my life. A special thanks to a few people who helped in this transition process for me: Dan French, Kevin Quinn, Sue Edson and Mary Kelly. They have been tremendous in fast-starting my coming-on-board process.
I do want to introduce my family, who is here: my oldest sister, Linda, a Syracuse grad; brother Henry, a Syracuse grad; sister-in-law Theresa, a doctoral candidate as Chancellor (Syverud) said; sons Tommy and James, who are diehard Syracuse fans; my wife Amy. Now Amy went to Rollins College, but she has adopted Orange. She had no choice. My son M.J., he’s 25 and he’s working at home in Connecticut as he should. My nephew Shawn and Rob who we are very close to and are Syracuse graduates.
My family has been awesome through this process. Amy and the boys have been so supportive. One of the things that we decided when we talked about as a family, that I’ve referenced many times with the Chancellor, is that this has to be a ‘We’ decision, not a ‘Me’ decision. This is not a ‘Me’ decision, but a ‘We’ decision. I can tell you, we are so excited to join the Central New York community and we look forward to being here for a long, long, long time.
I would like to thank the Chancellor, the search committee and the athletic department. I am proud, honored and very humbled to have been chosen as your next Athletics Director. As part of this process, one of the things I enjoyed doing the most is getting to know the Chancellor. His vision for the university is incredibly exciting. The campus framework – he’s been transformative for this university for our students. The renovation of the (Carrier) Dome, the building of the Arch can be a great resource for all students at Syracuse University.
The other thing I’ve enjoyed is just getting to know the Chancellor 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.
It’s important for me to thank John Skipper, the President of ESPN, and my team at ESPN. John has been incredibly supportive throughout this process. 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.
Syracuse Athletics is in a position of strength. We are coming off a tremendous year. We were a very significant contributor to the success of the ACC, one of the power-five conferences. We come off a year featuring national championships in cross country and field hockey, national championship appearance by Coach Q (Quentin Hillsman) and the women’s (basketball) team, and Final Four appearances from women’s lacrosse, men’s basketball and men’s soccer in the College Cup. That is incredibly impressive. Equally as impressive and equally as important is that we had a great year academically. Sixty-three percent of our student-athletes have a GPA of 3.00 or better. Sixty-three percent. Eleven of our teams have a perfect APR of 1,000. I’ve learned quickly that we have a remarkable group of student-athletes on this campus. We should be incredibly proud of their accomplishments, not only on the playing field but also in the classroom.
My staff and I will build on our strengths. Our objective is to have an environment where our student-athletes maximize their performance and their potential in the classroom and the playing field. We want to prepare them for future success in whatever field or whatever they choose and wherever they choose to do it. We want them to be proud alumni of Syracuse University and be great representatives of Syracuse University. Crucial to that success of our student-athletes are our head coaches and their staffs. I have quickly learned that we have a great group of head coaches who are deeply committed to our student-athletes, the University and the community. My staff and I look forward to building success and working with all of our coaches to ensure that we create a foundation that sustains success, both academically and athletically.
We have a terrific staff in the athletic department. Our department will be defined by integrity, a passion for all things Syracuse – the University, the student-athletes, all students, the community and region. A group that collaborates amongst each other in all facets and all branches of the University. We want our program to be a point of pride for the entire University -- our students, our alumni, the community and Orange fans worldwide. When we win and when we have success, the credit we give to student-athletes and the coaches.
To our fans in Syracuse and the surrounding area, thank you for your support of the University and Syracuse Athletics. It is so important and impactful on our student-athletes and our coaches. I’m fortunate to have many great memories as a fan in the stands. Whether it was Archibold Stadium back in the ‘70s when I was an undergrad. I was there in September of 1980 when the Dome opened. Now most recently, my family and I enjoying basketball and football games in the Dome. I invite, and my staff invites, all Orange fans everywhere to come support all of our student-athletes.
I’m honored, I’m humbled and I cannot wait to get started. Thank you.”
Why is Syracuse a dream job for you?
“I think number one is my roots, being a native of Upstate New York, being an undergraduate here, being a proud alumnus of Syracuse, keeping a connection after graduation through the Newhouse School, through the Falk School. Central New York is incredibly important to me and to our family.
And I think the other thing is this will be the first move I'd made in 36 years, so that tells you I'm probably not the most transient person in the world, right? Secondly, as I look at my family, if I come to them any time soon and say 'what about a move?' they will all disown me. So I am here, I am proud to be here, and grateful.”
Do the plans for the Carrier Dome add to your excitement about the position?
“I think there's so much momentum across the entire University, you see the construction that's ongoing, you've got, as I mentioned, the Master Plan -- the Dome is part of that. So there's so much momentum. There's positive energy here. It's a great institution. It's a great institution. It's not only nationally known, it's internationally known. The one thing I've learned in my time at ESPN, the Syracuse brand -- how respected and how impactful that is. So, again, our best days as a University lie ahead.”
How did you like getting to know Coach Babers?
“I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Coach Babers in this process. One of the things that I'm most impressed about him is his defined philosophy -- a philosophy on offense, we are going to go spread, we're going to go fast and faster than anybody else. Defense – it’s the Tampa-2. When you have a philosophy, that then allows him and his staff to recruit the student athletes who can add success in those offensive and defensive philosophies.
The other thing is just his commitment to student athletes and the academic side was very, very impressive. When he was a hired, I had a number of our ESPN analysts reach out to me and say "great hire, he'll do a terrific job.' So I'm excited about working with Coach Babers.”
What defines a modern-day athletic director?
“That's for others I think to probably define. For me it is: A) the passion I have for this University, all facets of the University. B) I have had tremendous experience and very rewarding experience dealing with various conferences, dealing with the NCAA, et cetera. I think most important is the passion that I bring. I'll challenge my staff, you know, again, we're in a great place, how do you get better? And I will rely heavily on my staff. It's a very, very talented group. And I think collectively together, and I mentioned collaboration, we will collaborate as a staff and if we do that, and we do that with our colleagues across the University, we'll have success.”
What at Syracuse made you want to leave ESPN after 36 years?
“Well, I have had other opportunities to leave ESPN and very intriguing opportunities. But I always thought ESPN was the right place to stay. Part of this -- it's the big passion play. There's no question. I mean, you know the love that I have for this University is significant. The chance to come home, the chance to work with young people, and help young people develop and develop academically, develop athletically, to work with a talented group of coaches, that excites me. The support of my family. As I said, this is a ‘we’, not a ‘me’ decision. And throughout the process and Korn Ferry was terrific. Jed Hughes was awesome. What piqued my interest? On a Saturday I spent the morning with the Chancellor and other members of the search committee and when I walked out of that meeting, to myself I said, 'you know what, this is something that I want to pursue.' And then I went back and Amy and I and the boys, we talked about it the next morning, and we made the decision let's go for it. And things came together quickly.”
What does it look like to look out and see this auditorium filled with people welcoming you back?
“I'm not sure I can describe it. It's an awesome, awesome feeling. The one thing I will tell you, it feels so right. It feels so right.”
What is your relationship with Coach Jim Boeheim?
“I've had the pleasure of knowing Coach and Juli for a number of years. Jim grew up in a little town of Lyons, New York. My grandfather had a drugstore six miles down the Erie Canal. Jim used to go to my Grandfather’s drug store and have a little soda once in a while, a little root beer float, I think. And we've just gotten to know each other over the years. And we've not spent a lot of time together, but we both like to play golf, we're both mediocre, we used to be pretty good, now we're mediocre. But I've gotten to know Jim and Juli and have enjoyed their company. There's nobody that's more loyal and dedicated to the community than Juli and Jim.”
What tops your agenda at Syracuse?
“In terms of my first priority, it's really -- it's getting to know my staff. I think that's really, really important in establishing a personal connection with everybody in the athletic department, the senior staff, getting up to speed as quickly as I can, what are the opportunities, where are we great, where can we improve upon. Letting them get to know me as a person. I want to know them more than just as somebody who I work with, I want to get to know them as a person, what are they like, what are their interests outside of work, their families, et cetera, that type of thing. Really develop a connection with people. I think if you can do that, I think it's -- you create a culture and I think any successful organization has a defined and unique culture and that's what I want to work to try to create.”
What's your philosophy on balancing out the football schedule?
“I want to sit down with Coach Babers and get his perspective on it because obviously you want to compete at a high level, but you also want to put our student athletes in a position where they can have success as well.
Obviously the ACC is a competitive conference, in our division we have Clemson and Florida State, their recent success is well known, so we want to play Power Five, non-conference foes. I want to work with Coach Babers and schedule a way that is going to enable our student athletes to have success, and our coaching staff.”
Was the succession plan previously announced in men's basketball discussed with you?
“It was discussed briefly, and again, as you said, there was an announcement made last year, an agreement by all parties. Jim's commitment to Syracuse is second to none. Mike's (Hopkins) commitment to Syracuse is amazing as well. Mike's been incredibly loyal. So I look at it as there is a succession plan in place. What we want to do is we want to navigate that as effectively as we possibly can to ensure that we have the sustained, continued success of men's basketball, because I know how important that program is to the University, the community, and all Orange fans.”
