Syracuse University is getting ready for a big change. Athletic director John Wildhack is hanging up his whistle after 10 years at the helm. His last day will be July 1, marking the end of an era that saw massive facility upgrades, coaching changes, and plenty of drama.
Let's take a walk through the biggest moments of Wildhack's time running Syracuse sports. Some were triumphant. Others were, well, messy.
The Early Days and Big Decisions
Wildhack came home to Syracuse in 2016 after working as an ESPN executive. The 1980 SU grad had barely unpacked his boxes when his first major crisis hit. The plan was for Mike Hopkins to take over the legendary men's basketball program from Jim Boeheim after the 2017-18 season.
But Hopkins bolted for Washington in March 2017. Wildhack extended Boeheim's contract instead and promoted Adrian Autry to associate head coach. That decision would echo through the program for years to come.
On the football side, Wildhack locked up coach Dino Babers with a long-term deal in December 2018 as the team was heading toward its first 10-win season since 2001. Fans loved it at the time. But Babers went just 23-36 after signing that extension, earning more than $36 million over eight years total. For bettors who liked backing Syracuse football during those years, it was a rough ride after that initial hot start.
Building for the Future
The biggest physical change to Syracuse athletics was the JMA Dome renovation. The old Carrier Dome got air conditioning, a new roof, a massive scoreboard, and eventually chairback seats replacing those uncomfortable metal benches. These weren't just cosmetic changes. The upgrades helped Syracuse attract major concerts and events, boosting the university's profile.
The naming rights saga itself was messy. The school had a perpetual deal with Carrier for just $2.75 million, which became a terrible bargain over time. After some public wrangling, JMA Wireless stepped in with a 10-year deal in May 2022.
Wildhack also oversaw the transformation of Manley Field House into the Lally Athletics Complex, thanks to a $25 million gift. The football program got a state-of-the-art headquarters as part of the deal.
But not everything was about buildings and contracts. December 2022 brought Syracuse its only team national championship under Wildhack when men's soccer won the NCAA title in a thrilling penalty shootout against Indiana. It was the program's first championship in 89 years.
The toughest moments came off the field. In 2021, domestic violence charges against a lacrosse player and a damning investigation into women's basketball coach Quentin Hillsman's behavior created PR nightmares. Hillsman resigned amid the probe, and Wildhack offered little public explanation. He brought in former Syracuse star Felisha Legette-Jack to rebuild the program, and she's steered it back to the NCAA Tournament.
March 2023 delivered the most dramatic moment of Wildhack's tenure. Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim was pushed out in an awkward, abrupt way that left everyone scrambling. Autry, the guy Wildhack had positioned years earlier, took over the program.
Just months later, Wildhack fired Babers with one game left in the 2023 season. Then he made his boldest move yet, hiring 40-year-old Fran Brown from Georgia. Brown had never been a head coach or coordinator, but he brought star quarterback Kyle McCord from Ohio State and won 10 games in Year 1. That's the kind of hire that makes or breaks an AD's legacy. Brown is 13-12 heading into his third season, and Syracuse bettors are watching closely to see if he can maintain that early momentum.
Wildhack's decade was never boring. He made big bets, renovated venues, and navigated scandals. Now someone else gets to write the next chapter of Syracuse athletics starting this summer.
