Syracuse has named its new athletic director, introducing ESPN executive vice president for programming and production John Wildhack as the next leader of the department.

Syracuse chancellor Kent Syverud described Wildhack, a 1980 Syracuse grad, as an "outside-the-box leader" with an "unparalleled" set of experiences heading into his first gig as an athletic director.

"As a leader at ESPN, he has demonstrated a keen ability to identify and implement strategies aimed at elevating the entire organization," Syverud said. "That record of success, combined with his extensive history of building and inspiring teams, will allow him to immediately and positively impact the lives of our student-athletes. This is a new day in the life of the Department of Athletics. I look forward to watching John, in collaboration with our talented coaches and staff, bring his bold vision for the department to life."

Wildhack's impressive resume includes producing ESPN's first live regular-season college football game in September 1984 and its first live NFL game in August 1987.

Syracuse has produced plenty of future journalists and executives in the media industry, but even among a talented group, Wildhack stands out. His 36 years of experience at ESPN not only included the production of live sports but also the negotiation of broadcasting rights.

As the ACC continues its research into a potential conference network and future broadcasting options, Wildhack now becomes a valuable resource for the league and one of the most respected voices in the room on the topic.

The hire also indicates another evolution in the role of the athletic director in major college sports. Once a position frequently filled by former players and coaches, the modern day athletic director must be a willing fundraiser, a competent CEO and have a working knowledge of the media landscape.