Bryan Blair Named Syracuse Athletic Director

Syracuse University has reportedly appointed Bryan B. Blair as its new Athletic Director, pending approval from the Board of Trustees. Blair, currently the Athletic Director at the University of Toledo, will become the 12th leader of the Syracuse Orange athletic program, succeeding John Wildhack, who announced his retirement in February .

Experience and Accomplishments

Blair has served as the Athletic Director at Toledo since 2022. During his tenure, he spearheaded significant fundraising efforts, including securing the second-largest cash gift in the program’s history and setting a new fundraising record for the 2024-25 season . He previously doubled fundraising as Deputy AD and Chief Operating Officer at Washington State University.

Under Blair’s leadership, Toledo became the first school in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) to establish a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) collective, and he hired a full-time executive to lead NIL strategy . Toledo’s athletic programs also achieved considerable success, winning 13 MAC Championships during his time as AD.

Blair was recognized for his accomplishments in 2024, earning a spot on the Sports Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 list . He was the youngest athletic director in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) when he was hired at Toledo in 2022.

Background

A former college athlete, Blair played defensive lineman at Wofford University. He began his career in college athletics with an internship at the NCAA and has since held positions at Rice University and the University of South Carolina .

Succession and University Leadership

Blair will succeed John Wildhack, who has served as Syracuse’s Athletic Director since 2016 . This hire comes alongside the appointment of Mike Haynie as the 13th chancellor of Syracuse University, who will begin his role on July 1, replacing Kent Syverud .