Daryl Gross stepping down as Syracuse director of athletics, Jim Boeheim to retire in three years

Daryl Gross is out as Syracuse's University's director of athletics, according to an email message sent by Chancellor Kent Syverud on Wednesday morning.

Peter Sala, managing director of the Carrier Dome, will serve as the interim athletic director with assistance from special assistant and former SU football star Floyd Little.

Gross will now serve as vice president and special assistant to the chancellor and an adjunct professor in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.

"Dr. Gross cares deeply about our University, our student-athletes and the Athletics Department," Syverud said. "Under his leadership, Syracuse Athletics has had strong and broad success.

"Overall, under his leadership, thousands of student-athletes have succeeded in competition, in the classroom and in the world as proud Syracuse alumni."

The decision was made less than two weeks after NCAA vacated 108 wins by the SU men's basketball team and levied a nine-game suspension against head coach Jim Boeheim following multiple violations by the athletic department.

Gross oversaw many big changes around the program, including the Orange's move from the Big East to the Atlantic Coast Conference and new practice facilities for the football, basketball and lacrosse teams.

Board of Trustees member Steve Ballentine will chair a committee responsbile for helping Syracuse find a new athletic director.

Additionally, Syverud also said that Boeheim intends to retire as head coach in three years in order to "bring certainty to the team and program in he coming years, and enable and plan for a successful, longer-term transition in coaching leadership."

Boeheim will adress the media Thursday at 10 a.m.

You can read Syverud's full statement here.