According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Northwestern will hire Mark Jackson as its next athletic director.
Per ESPN sources, Mark Jackson's deal to become Northwestern's AD has been finalized and is expected to be announced soon. https://t.co/rZYSRhl7Yz https://t.co/aMAvZRKZVT
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 29, 2024
Jackson, the current athletic director at Villanova, would take over for Derrick Gragg in the role. Northwestern reassigned Gragg from athletic director to vice president for athletics and recreation in June.
In seven years as leader of Villanova's athletic department, Jackson oversaw two men's basketball national titles in 2016 and 2018. He also developed a reputation as a fundraiser "and an administrator capable of spearheading significant facility projects," Thamel reported for ESPN.
Jackson will also bring extensive NFL and college football experience to Northwestern. Before he took over at Villanova, Jackson worked as a director of football development for the Oakland Raiders and had a minor role with the New England Patriots. His college experience comes from stints at Syracuse and USC.
