Eric Silakowski, a veteran athletics administrator who has led various Division I fundraising units, has joined Syracuse University as the Associate Vice President for Athletic Development and will lead the ’Cuse Athletics Fund.
Silakowski brings eight years of marketing, fundraising and promotional expertise from multiple Division I schools, including his most recent job as Associate Director of Athletics for Development at Yale University. In his new role, Silakowski will be responsible for the creation, strategic development, and implementation of all athletic fundraising and engagement efforts in support of the 20 men’s and women’s Division I Varsity sports programs, athletic facilities and name image likeness (NIL) initiatives at Syracuse University.
"I could not be more humbled and honored for the opportunity to join the Syracuse community," Silakowski said. "As a life-long Orange fan, I’m looking forward to being a part of and building upon our deep tradition of athletic and academic excellence. The future is bright for Syracuse, and I am thrilled to work alongside such a talented group to drive success for years to come."
During his time at Yale, Silakowski directed fundraising efforts for all 35 Bulldogs athletic programs. He also successfully oversaw the completion of multiple facility improvements, including a $38 million renovation of the Lapham Field House at the Smilow Field Center at the Carm Cozza Complex, which serves as the home for Yale’s football, track & field, and cross country programs.
He joined the Bulldogs in July of 2022 and immediately generated a 22-percent increase in annual giving through the development of a new, robust annual fund strategy. Yale saw another 12-percent increase in annual giving the following year.
Prior to Yale, Silakowski led the athletics development office as the Executive Director of Development at the United States Air Force Academy, a position he held for two years. Silakowski led a comprehensive development program that included oversight of all athletic department and sport-specific campaigns, including a record-breaking fundraising year in the 2022 fiscal year.
Before Air Force, Silakowski had stops at the University of Arkansas Little Rock and Monmouth University. While in Little Rock, he served as the Deputy Athletic Director for External Operations, guiding the department to a significant increase in private support, and helped secure gifts that led directly to the creation of their wrestling program, multiple naming opportunities and significant facility improvements. His athletics administration career began at Monmouth, where he was the Assistant Athletic Director for Ticketing and Development after leading the department’s marketing, promotions and group sales efforts.
Silakowski played baseball at Neumann University and earned his bachelor's degree in political science and history in 2012. In 2015, he earned his master's degree in sport management from St. John's. He and his wife, Maryana, have a daughter, Evangelia.
