Two Syracuse Administrators Named to Silver Waves Top-100 List
5/28/2026 8:19:00 AM | General
Two of Syracuse's new administrators were named to Silver Waves Media's Top-100 Rising Athletic Directors/Future Ads list for 2026.
Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Operating Officer Yulander Wells and Deputy Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator Nicole Harris were both honored on the list, which was announced this week.
Both were recently hired by incoming Director of Athletics Bryan Blair as key additions to Syracuse's athletics administration, bringing extensive experience that will drive the department's strategic priorities across operations, student-athlete development and institutional growth.
Wells arrived in Syracuse earlier this month and Harris is set to join the Orange in June.
Harris comes to Syracuse from the University of Toledo, where she served as deputy athletic director, chief operating officer and senior woman administrator. In her role, she provided executive leadership for strategic planning and daily operations across a 17-sport program and direct oversight of student-athlete support services, strength and conditioning, and NIL strategy and implementation. She served as sport administrator for football, women's basketball and multiple other programs, while representing Toledo on the Mid-American Conference Administrators Council. During her tenure, Toledo experienced one of the most successful periods in department history, marked by sustained conference championship contention and postseason success. The football program's performance included three top-65 NFL Draft selections over the past three years, one of just 13 programs nationally to achieve that distinction. Women's basketball consistently led the conference in attendance and advanced to postseason play.
Wells joins the Orange from the University of Notre Dame, where he has served as deputy athletics director for revenue, business and finance operations and most recently as deputy athletics director for athletics strategy. In those roles he had primary oversight of an operating budget in excess of $250 million, led the negotiation of a 10-year apparel partnership, provided strategic guidance for the department's lucrative one-of-a-kind media rights extension with NBC and provided executive leadership oversight for more than $200 million in construction projects, as well as generating record ticket sales, and corporate partnership revenues. Additionally, he also helped lead a comprehensive NIL and revenue-sharing cap strategy for the department's 26 teams.
Those included in Silver Waves' list are considered to be the top rising Athletic Directors and future leaders shaping the next generation of sports across America. Through vision, leadership, innovation, and a commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for athletes and families, these individuals are making a lasting impact in their communities and beyond. From established organizations to emerging programs, this recognition highlights those helping define the future of athletics and setting the standard for what comes next.
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Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Operating Officer Yulander Wells and Deputy Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator Nicole Harris were both honored on the list, which was announced this week.
Both were recently hired by incoming Director of Athletics Bryan Blair as key additions to Syracuse's athletics administration, bringing extensive experience that will drive the department's strategic priorities across operations, student-athlete development and institutional growth.
Wells arrived in Syracuse earlier this month and Harris is set to join the Orange in June.
Harris comes to Syracuse from the University of Toledo, where she served as deputy athletic director, chief operating officer and senior woman administrator. In her role, she provided executive leadership for strategic planning and daily operations across a 17-sport program and direct oversight of student-athlete support services, strength and conditioning, and NIL strategy and implementation. She served as sport administrator for football, women's basketball and multiple other programs, while representing Toledo on the Mid-American Conference Administrators Council. During her tenure, Toledo experienced one of the most successful periods in department history, marked by sustained conference championship contention and postseason success. The football program's performance included three top-65 NFL Draft selections over the past three years, one of just 13 programs nationally to achieve that distinction. Women's basketball consistently led the conference in attendance and advanced to postseason play.
Wells joins the Orange from the University of Notre Dame, where he has served as deputy athletics director for revenue, business and finance operations and most recently as deputy athletics director for athletics strategy. In those roles he had primary oversight of an operating budget in excess of $250 million, led the negotiation of a 10-year apparel partnership, provided strategic guidance for the department's lucrative one-of-a-kind media rights extension with NBC and provided executive leadership oversight for more than $200 million in construction projects, as well as generating record ticket sales, and corporate partnership revenues. Additionally, he also helped lead a comprehensive NIL and revenue-sharing cap strategy for the department's 26 teams.
Those included in Silver Waves' list are considered to be the top rising Athletic Directors and future leaders shaping the next generation of sports across America. Through vision, leadership, innovation, and a commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for athletes and families, these individuals are making a lasting impact in their communities and beyond. From established organizations to emerging programs, this recognition highlights those helping define the future of athletics and setting the standard for what comes next.
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