VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova Vice President and Director of Athletics Mark Jackson was today named the Vice President of Athletics and Recreation at Northwestern University.
 
University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, wrote in a communication to the Villanova community this morning: "While we are sad to see Mark leave, we wish him and his family all the best in this new opportunity. Since arriving on the Main Line in 2015, Mark has been a tremendous leader and innovator, partner and friend to so many at Villanova, helping elevate our Department of Athletics to unprecedented heights" 
 
Jackson came to Villanova after serving as a Senior Associate Athletics Director and Chief Innovation Officer at USC. In his nine years as the leader of Villanova's Athletics, Jackson saw 14 of the school's 24 varsity sports make NCAA postseason appearances, a stretch that included the 2016 and 2018 NCAA national Men's Basketball championships along with an individual NCAA Men's Cross Country national crown. The Wildcats have also claimed 39 conference championships in his tenure.
 
In March 2020, Jackson was named a winner of the Under Armour AD of the Year Award by The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) for his commitment and positive contributions to student-athletes, the university campus and its surrounding community. Villanova has been presented with the BIG EAST Conference President's Cup four times, in recognition of across-the-board athletic success. In May Jackson was named to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee to complete the term of retired Butler Director of Athletics Barry Collier.
 
Villanova's momentum in athletic achievement, academic excellence and community service has spurred unprecedented growth in the department's fundraising efforts over the last nine years. Jackson has steadily increased the number of leadership and major gift donors in support of athletics capital projects. The most significant achievement in this area was helping to make possible $65 million in fundraising for the 100 percent donor funded Finneran Pavilion renovation. Among other notable projects were helping to secure a permanent home for the Villanova rowing program; the $18 million Andrew J. Talley Athletic Center; and a $4 million renovation project in the Davis Center.
 
In his note to the community, Rev. Donohue wrote that he will work with the Board of Trustees and University leadership in the days ahead to determine a transition plan, to identify an interim Director of Athletics and to map out a plan for a national search to fill the position.