Sports

Northwestern Hires Mark Jackson as Vice President for Athletics and Recreation

Owen Hewitt and Katie Lewis

August 28, 2024

Athletic Director Mark Jackson is departing for the same role at Northwestern, as reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

This story was last updated on Aug. 29, 2024.

Northwestern has secured a deal with Villanova Athletic Director Mark Jackson to make him the school’s next athletic director. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Aug. 28 and confirmed on Aug. 29 in a statement from University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D.

“Since arriving on the Main Line in 2015, Mark has been a tremendous leader and innovator, partner and friend to so many at Villanova, helping elevate our Department of Athletics to unprecedented heights,” Fr. Peter said in the statement.

Villanova brought on Jackson as athletic director in September of 2015, and added vice president to Jackson’s title in January of 2020. During Jackson’s tenure, Villanova has claimed 34 conference championships, two men’s basketball national championships and produced a men’s cross country individual national champion. Villanova has also claimed the Big East Presidents’ Award four times under Jackson.

Jackson was reported as a finalist for the Northwestern role Tuesday, and by Wednesday evening Thamel reported that the school was “targeting” Jackson to fill the position.

Prior experience with football administration makes Jackson a quality hire for the lakefront Wildcats. Before coming to Villanova, Jackson worked as a special teams coaching assistant under then-New England Patriots head coach Pete Carroll. Jackson stuck with the Patriots for a season after Carroll was dismissed, then reunited with him at USC as director of football operations and assistant athletic director. Jackson also has experience as director of football development for the Oakland Raiders, a position he held for one year.

As Jackson’s new deal becomes official, Villanova will need to conduct a search to replace him.

“I will work with the Board of Trustees and University leadership in the days ahead to determine a transition plan, to identify an interim Director of Athletics and to map out a plan for a national search to fill the position,” Fr. Peter said.

Villanova may need to appoint an interim to oversee athletics while the search is conducted.

This story will be updated as more details emerge.

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About the Contributors

Owen Hewitt, Co-Sports Editor

Owen Hewitt is one of two Co-Sports Editors in 2024. Entering his second year in this position, he is a Communications major specializing in journalism. Owen is a Memphis native and a die-hard Grizzlies fan, although his main loyalty lies with Memphis 901 FC. When not writing about basketball or soccer, Owen can often be found on stage, performing as part of Villanova's improv team Ridiculum. Owen has many goals in life, including going into sports journalism as a profession, but his main goal — always — is to stay jitty with it.

Katie Lewis, Co-Sports Editor

Katie Lewis is a junior from Miami, FL in her first year as Co-Sports Editor in 2024. From covering games to writing features and profiles, she loves to find the story behind Villanova sports. Pursuing her enthusiasm for writing and journalism in her studies at Villanova, Katie is double-majoring in English and Communication with concentrations in Journalism and Writing & Rhetoric. When Katie isn’t at Holy Grounds working on her next article, she enjoys playing tennis with Villanova’s club team.