Villanova University Names Eric Roedl as Vice President and Director of Athletics
VILLANOVA, Pa. (November 19, 2024) - Villanova University today announced that Eric Roedl has been appointed the school's Vice President and Director of Athletics. Roedl, who currently serves as the Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Oregon, succeeds Mark Jackson, who held the position for nine years prior to departing for the same role at Northwestern University. Roedl will officially start in his new role in early 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,” said University President the Reverend Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD. “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. We are thrilled to welcome Eric, his wife, Nicole, and their sons, EJ, Ryan and Jake.”
“I would like to thank President Father Peter Donohue, the search committee, and the Villanova community for entrusting me to lead Villanova Athletics,” said Roedl. “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.”
With more than 25 years in collegiate sports, Roedl has a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of all sports and the associated support necessary to sustain a high-level collegiate athletics program. At Oregon, Roedl assists in the oversight and administration of the university's flagship football program along with basketball, baseball and men’s and women’s tennis, and oversees the day-to-day operations of the university’s 20-sport, $145M athletic program. He also leads the Ducks’ external operations units, including ticket sales/operations, marketing, and fundraising, which generate more than $60M in annual revenues, and assists with facility oversight and capital project coordination.
Roedl is also a leader at the conference and national levels. He served on the Pac-12 Football and Men’s Basketball Working Groups and has previously represented Oregon and the Pac-12 Conference as a member of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Tennis Committee. He is also a past president of the College Athletics Business Management Association (CABMA).
“Congratulations Villanova on an outstanding hire as your next athletic director," said Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens. “Eric, Nicole and the boys have a genuine passion for Villanova. Eric has played a key role over many years in the Oregon Athletics success. 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.”
Prior to Oregon, Roedl spent more than eight years at Temple University, where he served as the deputy athletics director and as the sport administrator for the Owls’ football, men’s basketball, and baseball programs. He had oversight of business/financial operations, sports medicine, and strength & conditioning. Previous responsibilities at Temple included serving as the CFO and oversight of external operations, including marketing/promotions, ticket sales/operations, and corporate sales.
He also served as associate director of athletic business affairs at the College of William & Mary and as a staff accountant at Ernst & Young, where he earned New York State CPA certification.
Roedl is a Villanova alumnus (Class of 1997) and a Villanova Men’s Tennis student-athlete. He has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Villanova University, a Master of Sports Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Master of Business Administration from the College of William & Mary. Roedl and his wife, Nicole, Villanova Class of 1998, are parents to three boys—EJ, Ryan, and Jake.
Parker Executive Search was the lead consultant in Villanova's search for a new Director of Athletics. A search committee, composed of board members, alumni, faculty and staff, oversaw the search process.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ERIC
“I couldn’t be more thrilled for Eric and his wife, Nicole, and their boys for the next chapter in their life at Villanova,’ said Oregon head football coach Dan Lanning. 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.’’
“Eric has worked closely with our basketball program for the past 12 years and we are going to miss his leadership and support,” said Oregon head men’s basketball coach Dana Altman. “Nicole and Eric have a wonderful family! They will be missed by the Ducks but will be a tremendous addition to the Villanova community.”
“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.’’
About Villanova Athletics: Villanova University has a long and storied athletics history defined by excellence both in competition and in the classroom. The Villanova Athletics Department is a community of student-athletes, coaches, and staff whose primary focus is to achieve academic excellence while striving to produce teams and individuals committed to athletic competition and outstanding performance. Villanova Athletics sponsors 24 varsity sports, which together include more than 600 student-athletes.
About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University's Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges -- the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University School of Law. As students grow intellectually, Villanova prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu