Professional Documents
Culture Documents
and position itself for continued future success. Effective today, Dr. Gross will serve as Vice President and
Special Assistant to the Chancellor, and adjunct professor in the David B. Falk College of Sport and
Human Dynamics. Dr. Gross has embraced this opportunity and we look forward to his continued
contributions.
I have appointed Peter Sala, Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Facilities and the Managing
Director of the Carrier Dome, to serve as Interim Director of Athletics. I am grateful that Floyd Little,
Special Assistant to the Athletics Director, has agreed to counsel and assist Peter through this term as
Interim Director.
Steve Ballentine, who is a Board of Trustees member and serves on the Boards Athletics Committee, will
chair a small committee to assist the University in the search for a new Director of Athletics. This
committee will include: Trustee Robert Miron, Chairman of the Boards Athletics Committee; Lavonda
Reed, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs; Interim Athletics Director Sala; Barry Wells, Special
Assistant to the Chancellor; a representative head coach; faculty and student representatives; and a
representative from the Office of University Counsel, which oversees Athletic Compliance. I will also be
asking the committee to review and recommend organizational and structural changes with a focus on
further enhancing the overall student-athlete experience including the possible creation of a new seniorlevel position to manage all department operations.
Coach Jim Boeheim has been a mainstay at Syracuse University for more than one-third of our entire
144-year history. He enrolled as a student here in 1962 and has never left. Among the many roles he has
held at Syracuse are student-athlete, graduate assistant, teacher, assistant coach, head coach, community
stalwart, philanthropist, U.S. Olympian coach, and Hall of Fame member. In these roles, he has been the
embodiment of Orange Pride.
I have also had recent discussions with Coach Boeheim about the Infractions Committee Report, and the
future of his team and program. Coach Boeheim has assured me that he will respond thoughtfully and
appropriately to the serious findings of the Infractions Committee Report. Coach Boeheim has also told
me that he intends to retire as Head Coach in three years. His goal in making this decision and
announcement now is to bring certainty to the team and program in the coming years, and enable and plan
for a successful, longer-term transition in coaching leadership. Coach Boeheims commitment to ensuring
that the mens basketball program remains strong even after his tenure is just one more example of his
deep loyalty to our University.
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the extraordinary support, counsel, and hard work of
many of you as our University works through these issues. Syracuse University is a great institution with
a proud history, and this has been a tough time. Thanks for the manifold contributions of many people
including Athletics Director Daryl Gross and Coach Jim Boeheimso much good has been accomplished
here, and will be accomplished in the years ahead. Thank you for your faith and support.
Sincerely,