Syracuse University’s new athletic director is promising strong academics and winning teams as he was introduced to the public by Syracuse University. Mark Coyle is leaving his job as athletic director at Boise State University, to take the helm of an athletic department that’s seen its share of troubles lately.
Coyle will oversee an athletic department that only three months ago was slapped with massive NCAA sanctions, following an eight-year investigation that determined that SU violated several NCAA rules.
In a news conference introducing Coyle to a packed room full of Orange boosters, athletes and coaches, the outgoing Boise State A.D. says he’s going into the job with his eyes open.
“Obviously I understand what they went through from that standpoint, and the search committee was very honest and forthright in what this program is going through right now. And I think what attracted them to me, and me to Syracuse was that I’d just gone through that process,” said Coyle.
In 2011, Boise State was cited for NCAA violations involving its football, tennis and track and field teams.
Coyle succeeds interim athletic director Pete Sala, who had taken over after former A.D. Darryl Gross left the job shortly after the NCAA sanctions were announced.
Coyle says truth is important to the way he operates, and promises that athletics and academics can coexist.
"My expectations are simple. I want to make sure we provide a broad-based program, that’s nationally competitive and that focuses on every student athlete. We’re going to get our degrees and we’re going compete for championships.”
