Sources: N’western targets Villanova AD Jackson

Northwestern is targeting Villanova athletic director Mark Jackson as the school’s new athletic director, sources told ESPN.

Jackson has emerged from a field of three finalists, and a deal is expected to come together in the near future, sources said.

Jackson would take over for Derrick Gragg, who was reassigned in June. He is set to become the third athletic director for the school since Jim Phillips left to accept the ACC Commissioner job in December of 2020.

Jackson brings extensive experience in the athletic director’s chair and in the football space. Villanova won two national titles in basketball during Jackson’s nine years as AD. He developed a reputation there as a strong fundraiser and an administrator capable of spearheading significant facility projects.

Jackson also brings extensive NFL and college football experience. That includes football oversight at both Syracuse and USC during his stints in the athletic departments there.

Before Villanova, Jackson worked as the senior associate director of athletics and chief innovation officer at USC. He worked closely with the football program there and helped with the renovation of the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Jackson also worked for the then-Oakland Raiders as the organization’s director of football development. He has strong ties Pete Carroll, who he worked for at the New England Patriots and alongside at USC.

Northwestern spent much of last season dealing with the reverberations of the firing of coach Pat Fitzgerald in the wake of hazing allegations within the program. Interim coach David Braun earned the permanent job by going 8-5 and keeping the program together.

Also looming at Northwestern is a stadium overhaul of Ryan Field that has Northwestern playing some home games in a makeshift stadium this year.