On Wednesday morning it was announced that Syracuse athletic director Mark Coyle was the lone finalist for the same position at Minnesota, and roughly seven hours later he arrived at a press conference at TCF Bank Stadium to publicly accept the position.

His departure from SU leaves the school without an athletic director for the second time in as many years. He lasted just 311 days on the job after starting on July 6. Here are three things we learned from Coyle’s press conference to join the Gophers’ staff.

He regrets the timing of his Syracuse departure

Coyle leaned back on the statement a handful of times in the 25-minute press conference: “I regret the timing.” The first-year athletic director oversaw a Syracuse Athletics program that experienced one of its best years ever. Four teams advanced to their respective Final Fours, and SU field hockey and men’s cross country garnered national championships. Yet he didn’t make it through to the end of the athletic year, with both Orange lacrosse teams about to embark in the NCAA tournament.

He thanked Syracuse for the opportunity the school allowed him, and specifically his superior, Chancellor Kent Syverud.

“He’s a very special person, and I was so grateful for the opportunity he gave me at Syracuse, and that’s a first-class institution,” Coyle said. “They treated me and my family so well, and I regret the timing. I am so grateful or the opportunity Chancellor Syverud gave me and the people at Syracuse, they walk with me and my family.

“We’ve had tremendous success because there’s great people back there. So I hope he knows how much I appreciate he did for me and my family during my time in Syracuse.”

---

MORE COVERAGE:

• SU Athletics emails season-ticket holders following Mark Coyle’s departure
• Poll: Are you understanding of Mark Coyle’s rationale for leaving SU?
• Jim Boeheim and Dino Babers surprised by Mark Coyle’s departure

---

Minnesota was the right — the only — fit

In the opening remarks at his press conference, Coyle prompted himself to answer the question, “Why Minnesota?”

“I’ve been in this for a long time, we love this place,” Coyle began. Then he fell silent, looking out into the crowd, and down at his family. He tried mentioning his kids, before becoming emotional and pausing for 17 seconds, only breaking to say, “Excuse me.”

He then told a story about his daughter, Grace, and her third birthday party while Coyle was the associate AD of external affairs. Goldy the Gopher, Minnesota’s mascot, appeared at the party and Coyle’s daughter began singing the school’s fight song. He chose that moment to represent his time with the Gophers from 2001-2005, and the one that drove him back to his former employer.

“There was one place I was going to leave Syracuse for,” Coyle said, “and it’s Minnesota.”

The move to Minnesota also brings Coyle geographically closer to mentor and former Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi.

Sam Blum | Senior Staff Writer

Coyle’s ties to the Midwest ultimately prevailed

The 47-year-old Coyle hails from Waterloo, Iowa. He went to Columbus (Iowa) High School and won a football state championship in his senior year as a stud wide receiver. He still considers his high school history teacher and assistant football coach a life-shaping mentor. He even stayed in Iowa to pursue his football career, playing for four years at Drake.

Iowa is home for Mark Coyle, but as evidenced by his past career stops in Minnesota, Kentucky and even earlier at a public relations firm in Illinois, the Midwest is his home and comfort spot.

Said Coyle: “I can’t tell you how excited we are to be back close to our family and have a chance to do something I love, close to my family.”

Published on May 11, 2016 at 7:57 pm

Contact Connor: cgrossma@syr.edu | @connorgrossman