Staff Directory
- Title:
- Special Advisor to the Chancellor and Athletic Director
- Email:
Heather Lyke was hired as the Special Advisor to Chancellor Kent Syverud and Athletic Director John Wildhack on July 1, 2025.
Lyke is a visionary and experienced executive in college athletics who brings a wealth of knowledge to the department, including previously serving as a Division I Athletic Director for the past 12 years at the University of Pittsburgh and Eastern Michigan University. Additionally, Lyke worked for 15 years at The Ohio State University and three years at the University of Cincinnati in various athletics leadership and administrative roles. Lyke also most recently served as the Acting President and CEO of the FBS Athletic Director Association.Â
In her role at Syracuse, Lyke will advise Chancellor Syverud and AD Wildhack on several important and strategic initiatives, in what is a transformative time for college athletics. She will serve as a member of the athletic department’s cabinet, work with coaches and sports administrators to develop a comprehensive sport oversight model, and help position Syracuse for continued success in a new era for the industry.
Lyke led the University of Pittsburgh from 2017-24, overseeing an era of transformative and unprecedented success for the Panthers. During her tenure, Pitt football won its first ACC Championship in 2022, the men’s basketball team returned to the NCAA tournament, volleyball emerged as a national powerhouse and perennial top 10 program (competing in four Final 4s in the last four years) and men’s soccer make multiple appearances in the College Cup. Pitt Athletics won 11 ACC Conference and Divisional Championship during her tenure in five different sports. In Pitt’s history, it had only won one ACC Championship before Lyke’s arrival. In 2023, NACDA honored her as a Cushman & Wakefield AD of the Year. She was also a finalist for the 2023 Sports Business Journal Athletic Director of the Year. Additionally, during her time leading the Panthers, fundraising records were set for membership and philanthropic giving. The Script Society was founded and the largest single donations in athletic history were made to the football program. There were numerous facility renovations and improvements, the color/logo change and new premium areas and revenue generation ideas executed. Lastly, the vision for the $240 million Victory Heights Arena and Sports Performance Center was approved and ground was broken on this transformative competitive arena and performance center for 16 of the 19 teams. Â
During her time in the ACC, Lyke represented the conference on various national committees, including serving as the league representative on the NCAA Division I Council for five years. She also served as the Chair of the ACC Director of Athletics group and the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee.
Prior to Pittsburgh, Lyke served as the Director of Athletics at Eastern Michigan University from 2013-17, leading the department to compete at the top of the Mid-American Conference. In her tenure, the Eagles captured 16 MAC team championships and 91 individual titles, garnered 19 MAC Coach of the Year awards and for the first time in school history, was honored with the MAC’s Cartwright Award for all-around athletic department excellence (2013-14) and Jacoby Award for female athletic excellence (2014-15).
Lyke spent 15 years at The Ohio State University in various roles within athletics administration, prior to her appointment at Eastern Michigan. She arrived in Columbus in 1998 as the Association Athletic Director for Sport Administration, Compliance and Camp Operations and ended her time as the Senior Associate Athletic Director. She served as a member of the department’s executive team and oversaw 10 of Ohio State’s 36 varsity programs. Prior to Ohio State, Lyke was at the University of Cincinnati for two years, serving as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance as well as the Senior Woman Administrator. Lyke began her career at the NCAA national office as an intern. She has also worked for the Big Ten Network as a color analyst for softball games.
Lastly, Lyke has served on numerous impactful boards and committees having served as the 1st Vice President of NACDA, the Chair of LEAD1, the President of Women Leaders in Sports. She is also a current Board member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
A Canton, Ohio native, Lyke attended the University of Michigan, where she was a four-year letterwinner, two-time captain, Big Ten champion and Academic All-Big Ten honoree as a first baseman on the softball team. She earned a bachelor's degree in education from Michigan in 1992 and Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron Law School in 1995. She and her husband, David, have three children, Elle, Sophie and Eli.
