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Pete Thamel, ESPN
Villanova has hired Oregon deputy athletic director/COO Eric Roedl as the Wildcats’ new athletic director, the school announced Tuesday.
Roedl replaces Mark Jackson, who departed after nine years for the same role at Northwestern, and gives Villanova a new face to lead its athletic department at a time when its nationally recognized basketball program is struggling for the third consecutive season.
Villanova chose Roedl, a Wildcats alum, in part because of the breadth of experience he brings from his time at Oregon. Roedl played a big role on a macro level at Oregon with the school’s No. 1-ranked football program and perennially successful basketball program.
University president Peter M. Donohue said in statement that he is confident Roedl is someone who can “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.”
Roedl had a big part in the search that brought Dan Lanning from Georgia to Eugene, played a key role behind the scenes on Oregon’s move to the Big Ten and has strong Nike relationships from his time at the school, which began in 2012.
There’s also significant local experience for Roedl, who graduated from Villanova in 1997 and was a co-captain of the tennis team. He also worked at Temple for eight years, which included oversight of its basketball program.
“As a Villanova alum and former student-athlete, it is an honor to return to my alma mater,” Roedl said in a statement. “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.”
Roedl’s first big decision is expected to be on the future of basketball coach Kyle Neptune, who continues to struggle in his third season at Villanova. Neptune, who replaced Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright, is 37-36 and 2-3 this season with a loss to Columbia.
Wright won national titles at Villanova in 2016 and 2018, but the program has slipped dramatically since his retirement.
Roedl’s responsibilities at Oregon included a role as the sport administrator for men’s basketball. He also had oversight responsibility for business/financial operations, strategic and financial planning, human resources, contracts, information technology and equipment operations.
“Eric has played a key role over many years in the Oregon Athletics success,” Ducks athletic director Rob Mullens said in a statement. “Eric brings strong leadership, a commitment to the student-athlete experience and a competitive spirit to Villanova. The Wildcats have a bright future with Eric Roedl at the helm.”
Ducks football coach Dan Lanning added, “I’ve been fortunate enough to work closely with Eric and our football team the last three years here at Oregon and can say with confidence that Villanova is getting an all-star.”
Roedl will officially start in his new role in early January.