From what I'm hearing, the next athletics director of the Syracuse Orange could be announced this coming week, and there's chatter that the new AD may have already been hired, but that is not something I've been able to independently confirm.
Understandably, people involved in the decision-making to find the next SU athletics director aren't speaking publicly about the process and its ultimate timetable (or they're just not speaking to me lol).
In any event, reports have indicated that a decision is expected soon, and it will come not long after Syracuse University named J. Michael Haynie as its new chancellor to replace the outgoing Kent Syverud on July 1.
Since his appointment, Haynie has said that he recognizes and understands the importance of top-tier athletics at Syracuse to the larger university community, especially given the current landscape in college sports.
Now, SU needs to go ahead and hire (if it hasn't already) Nick Carparelli as the Orange's next athletics director, who would replace the retiring John Wildhack on July 1.
Per reports, several candidates have interviewed for the Syracuse Orange athletics director post.
Recently, Syracuse.com has reported that among those who have interviewed to be the new 'Cuse athletics director are Heather Lyke, a special advisor to the chancellor and athletics director at SU; and Nick Carparelli, who is the executive director of the Coca-Cola Bowl Season.
I've noted in several articles of late that I anticipated Lyke and Carparelli would be among the candidates. To me, Carparelli is the right person for this position, and I mean no disrespect here to Lyke and any other candidates.
In late 2019, Carparelli was named the executive director of the Coca-Cola Bowl Season, which serves as the collective association of every college football bowl game. He has roughly three decades of senior leadership experience in athletics.
Carparelli's prior gigs include senior director of college sports at Baltimore-based Under Armour, senior associate commissioner of the Big East Conference, director of operations for the NFL's New England Patriots (when they won their first Super Bowl) and a football administrator at Notre Dame.
Additionally, Carparelli, who is originally from Cheshire, Conn., and currently lives in East Greenwich, R.I., has ties to SU. He was a graduate assistant for two years with Syracuse football, and he earned his master's degree in business administration from Syracuse University in 1994.
Oh, and per his bio on the Coca-Cola Bowl Season Web site, while at the 'Cuse, Carparelli assisted in the recruitment of former Syracuse football star quarterback Donovan McNabb.
Hire Nick immediately, SU officials.