June 12 – Mark Jackson, the No. 2 person in the Syracuse athletic department, is departing SU to become vice president of athlete development at A2 Holdings, LLC, in Los Angeles.

Jackson’s decision was announced in a press release to the media this afternoon.

He had served as SU’s executive senior associate athletic director since arriving shortly after Daryl Gross took over as AD in December 2004.

A2 Holdings is a private equity-funded startup venture focused on rebuilding the sport of boxing in the United States at all levels.

‘This was a very difficult decision for my family and me to make,’ Jackson said in the press release. ‘It is a very exciting time to be here at Syracuse under Daryl Gross’ and Chancellor Cantor’s leadership, especially exciting because I know how much success they are both going to eventually have.

‘At the same time, this is an incredible opportunity to get involved with an organization at the very grassroots level and build something from the ground up. I cannot wait to get started.’

Jackson, who will remain at Syracuse through July 15, worked as an assistant athletics director and director of football operations at Southern California prior to his Syracuse arrival. Gross worked in the USC athletic department for 14 years, the last three as a senior associate athletic director, before coming to Syracuse.

‘Mark has done a wonderful job helping us build the foundation in this new tenure of Syracuse athletics,’ Gross said in the press release.

‘Mark is very talented and I always knew there would be tremendous opportunities for him. I have worked with Mark at two different universities, and his loss will be felt especially by me because he is like a brother.’

Published on June 13, 2006 at 12:00 pm