This story will be updated as more details emerge.
Villanova is hiring Oregon Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer Eric Roedl as its new athletic director. The news was first reported Tuesday afternoon by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
An email from the Office of the President was sent to the Villanova community Tuesday at 4:27 p.m. confirming that Roedl will take over as vice president and director of athletics “at the start of January 2025.”
“When we began our search, we were looking for an individual who understands our Augustinian mission, who is able to successfully navigate the changing landscape of college athletics and who possesses the necessary skills to build on our legacy of success—athletically, academically and administratively—well into the future,” University President Rev. Peter M. Donahue, O.S.A., Ph.D wrote in the statement. “Eric quickly stood out among a very talented group of candidates as a leader with a breadth of experience, vision and deep commitment to student-athletes.
Roedl will fill the vacancy left after former athletic director Mark Jackson departed for the same role at Northwestern in August. Longtime athletic administrator Lynn Tighe served as the interim athletic director while the search was ongoing. 82 days passed between the announcement of Jackson’s departure and Roedl’s hiring.
“This is an exciting day for the University,” Rev. Donahue wrote. “Villanova Athletics is a significant part of University life, and the success of our athletics programs is a source of great pride for students, faculty, staff and alumni. I am confident that Eric will help advance the athletic and academic goals of our university and set us on an exciting course in the ever-evolving college sports landscape while continuing the storied legacy of Villanova Athletics.”
Roedl took over as executive senior associate athletics director at Oregon in 2012, where he spent the last 12 years. He served as Oregon’s deputy AD for eight years after a promotion to the role in 2016.
Roedl is a Villanova undergraduate alumnus. He graduated in 1997 with a bachelor of science in accounting and served as co-captain of the men’s tennis team. He also holds a master of sport administration from North Carolina and a master of business administration from William & Mary.
“I would like to thank President Father Peter Donohue, the search committee, and the Villanova community for entrusting me to lead Villanova Athletics,” Roedl said in a press release. “As a Villanova alum and former student-athlete, it is an honor to return to my alma mater. My vision is to collaborate with University leadership, the Villanova community, our coaches, staff, and student-athletes to maintain a championship culture throughout the athletic department that places the highest value on student-athlete experience and success and strives to match and promote the excellence of Villanova in everything we do.”
After three years as an associate director of athletic business affairs at William & Mary, Roedl took a job as the associate athletic director and chief financial officer for Temple in 2003. Roedl was eventually promoted to deputy AD at Temple in 2011 before departing for Oregon in January 2012.
As chief operating officer at Oregon, Roedl oversaw the day-to-day operations of Oregon’s 20-team 145-million dollar athletic program. Roedl was responsible for “business/financial operations, strategic and financial planning, human resources, contracts, information technology, and equipment operations,” according to his bio on the Oregon Athletics website. Roedl also served as the sport administrator for Oregon’s men’s basketball, baseball, men’s tennis and women’s tennis teams.
“Eric has worked closely with our basketball program for the past 12 years and we are going to miss his leadership and support,” Oregon head men’s basketball coach Dana Altman said to Villanova Athletics. “Nicole and Eric have a wonderful family. They will be missed by the Ducks but will be a tremendous addition to the Villanova community.”
Roedl had a leadership role on the Pac-12 Football and Men’s Basketball Working Groups. He has also represented the Pac-12 on the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Tennis Committee.
Over 25 years within collegiate athletics administration, Roedl has gained experience in many different roles. At Temple, his responsibilities as Deputy AD included direct supervision over business/financial operations, sports medicine and strength & conditioning. He also served as the sport administrator for the Owls’ football, men’s basketball and baseball teams.
“There is not a more talented, capable or proven athletic administrator, at any level, than Eric Roedl,” said former Temple athletic director Bill Bradshaw. “Kudos to Villanova for this brilliant hire and congrats to Eric, a former Wildcat student-athlete, for coming back home. All of us who had the pleasure of working with Eric are very proud of our dear friend and wish him and his beautiful family every success.”
Parker Executive Search served as the lead consultant in Villanova’s hiring process. The firm has served as a consulting group for many high-profile athletic leadership searches. Some of its recent placements include Eric Musselman as men’s basketball head coach at Southern California and Kim Caldwell as women’s basketball head coach at Tennessee.
Villanova board members, alumni, faculty and staff, served on a committee that oversaw the search process. There are no details about an introductory conference for Roedl at this time.
