This afternoon, it was reported that Syracuse’s athletic director search had zeroed in on Toledo AD Bryan Blair.
Blair wasn’t seen as the clear frontrunner for this position, as Heather Lyke – a special advisor in the athletic department – was rumored to be in the running as well.
Appointed Toledo’s athletic director in 2022, Blair quickly changed the trajectory of the Rockets’ athletic department. Under his leadership, Toledo captured 13 Mid-American Conference championships and made history as the first FBS program to win league titles in football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s tennis, and women’s cross country in the same calendar year.
Blair also helped revive Toledo football. During his tenure, the Rockets won at least eight games in four consecutive seasons, reestablishing the program as one of the MAC’s most consistent contenders.
Even at the mid-major level, Blair proved adept at navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of college athletics. Toledo became the first school in the MAC to launch an NIL collective, and in 2023 the university hired a full-time executive dedicated specifically to name, image, and likeness strategy and fundraising.
While Blair, 40, is young, he’s experienced and ready for the job. Since 2011, Blair worked at Rice and South Carolina, before working as the associate athletic director at Rice from 2014-2018.
The university has scheduled a Board of Trustees meeting for Thursday, where Blair’s hire is expected to be finalized.
