When news broke on Wednesday afternoon that SU athletics director John Wildhack will retire from his post, after 10 years in that role, on July 1, one huge question immediately came to mind: Given his lame-duck status, and that of Syracuse University chancellor Kent Syverud, who would be making the decision on whether Syracuse basketball head Adrian Autry would return after the 2025-26 campaign, his third season as the program's helm?
Wildhack, in an interview on Wednesday with ESPN Radio Syracuse's "Orange Nation" program, said that any decisions that need to be made until July 1, he will make, in consultation with the SU chancellor, other leaders across the university's campus and the board of trustees.
When asked if his stepping down on July 1 would prohibit him in any way from making changes that are necessary regarding Orange sports programs, Wildhack emphatically said, "No."
By extension, Wildhack says he hasn't made any decisions about Autry's future. The SU athletics director says he owes it to Autry and the rest of the staff to let them play out the remainder of the 2025-26 season, noting that the ACC Tournament is in March and the transfer portal doesn't open until April, after the NCAA Tournament is over.
Outgoing SU athletics director John Wildhack is disappointed in Syracuse basketball's season.
The Orange (13-11 overall, 4-7 in ACC) is set to host California on Wednesday evening at the JMA Wireless Dome. Wildhack says that he's frustrated with the team's 2025-26 term, adding that the 'Cuse has had some games it could have won but didn't (hi, Hofstra and Boston College).
Wildhack has stressed that his expectations for the Orange's 2025-26 season haven't changed - to play meaningful games in March. Short of being a lock for the 2026 Big Dance, Wildhack said perhaps the 'Cuse could go on a deep run in next month's ACC Tournament in Charlotte, N.C., and maybe enter the bubble conversation for the field of 68.
That's highly unlikely, given how SU is playing these days. With roughly a month to go in the regular season, Wildhack says the Orange's margin for error is "incredibly thin," and everyone is disappointed in the team's record to date.
Still, he wants to see how the rest of the regular season plays out, noting that in-season head coaching changes in college basketball are rare. Wildhack says he has met with Autry a few times of late, while reiterating to the Syracuse basketball head coach what his expectations are and also continuing to support Autry and the program.
There are many hot-button topics in college basketball these days, including direct revenue-sharing and third-party name, image and likeness ("NIL") deals. Some 'Cuse fans continue to believe that Syracuse basketball falls well behind its peers in the Atlantic Coast Conference in terms of revenue-share and NIL. Wildhack says while there's no "definitive data" out there, as far as he can tell, the Orange is in the top-half of the ACC in men's basketball related to rev-share and NIL.
Wildhack says the college sports system, as a whole, is in need of "significant repair." There are athletes transferring every single year, players suing the NCAA over eligibility, guys who have signed NBA contracts or played in the G League who want to return to college, etc.
The transfer portal, in essence, is free agency, Wildhack accurately notes. He thinks things would improve if athletes were allowed to transfer once, but if they wanted to transfer a second time, they would have to sit out a year, unless the head coach of their current school has left.
It's become a transactional business, Wildhack says, and it's not healthy for athletes, it "makes a mockery of the education system," and it's not good for the long-term viability of college sports. He says collective bargaining should be explored, and the NCAA may need help from federal lawmakers.
Wildhack acknowledges that in collegiate athletics, bigger brands will always have some advantages, but college sports could become even more popular and valuable than they are today if systems are put in place to create a degree of competitive equity and ensure that if rules are broken, significant consequences come as a result.
Reflecting on his decision to retire, Wildhack said that he extended his contract last July for one year. He wanted to see where he was and if he was prepared to make the demanding time commitment moving forward beyond the one year. Recently, he talked with his family and came to the decision that it was the right time to step aside.
Wildhack, a Syracuse University alum and former long-time ESPN executive, says that Syverud's decision to leave SU by July 1 to become the next president at the University of Michigan did not factor into Wildhack's decision at all.
In terms of the timetable for a new athletics director to join Syracuse University, Wildhack says that will be up to the board, and he's focused on doing everything he can to ensure a smooth transition.
He says that he's "incredibly grateful" for the opportunity to return to his alma mater for the past decade, adding that he's thankful, he's been blessed and he's "very comfortable" with his decision to retire on July 1.
From myself and the rest of Orange Nation, a big thank you to John for all that he's done for Syracuse Athletics over the years.