Northwestern hires Mark Jackson from Villanova as new athletic director

Northwestern hired Villanova athletic director Mark Jackson on Thursday to fill the same position, two months after former AD Derrick Gragg was moved into an advisory role with the university.

Jackson, 51, has been athletic director at Villanova since 2015, overseeing the athletic department that won 34 Big East championships in various sports and two men's basketball NCAA tournament titles.

"Mark has been extraordinarily successful at Villanova in supporting students' athletic and academic achievements. After talking to him, I trust that he will prioritize the welfare of our student-athletes and give them the support they need to succeed," university president Michael Schill said in a statement. "I am fully confident in Mark's ability to lead Northwestern Athletics to new heights and am excited to see how he will transform our program."

In June, Gragg was bumped into a new role as vice president of athletic strategy after he became entangled in two coaching scandals.

The first involved the firing of longtime football coach Pat Fitzgerald after allegations of hazing. The university initially suspended Fitzgerald before Schill — facing public pressure — fired the coach. Gragg was on vacation at the time of the controversy and never addressed the team in person.

Fitzgerald is suing the school for wrongful termination.

Later, the Chicago Tribune reported that a Northwestern investigation substantiated accusations of bullying behavior by baseball coach Jim Foster, who was hired by Gragg. Foster was not fired until after the investigation became public.

Jackson steps in as Northwestern football is transitioning to a new home with Ryan Field under renovations for the next two seasons. The Wildcats will play most of their games in a temporary lakeside stadium on campus this season and next.

"Northwestern University is world-class in all of its endeavors and its mission, values and pursuit of excellence in academics and athletics are not only aligned with my beliefs and approach but are a model for intercollegiate athletics," Jackson said. "I cannot wait to engage with Wildcat student-athletes, coaches, staff, faculty, alumni and fans, and my family and I look forward to wearing the Purple!"

Jackson was an administrator at Southern California during the dominant run its football team had under coach Pete Carroll and at Syracuse before taking over at Villanova.

The Boston native also worked for the Oakland Raiders as director of football development from 2007-08 and did a stint with the New England Patriots as a coaching assistant it the late 1990s.