Because he was such an exceptional administrator, it is easy to forget that Jake Crouthamel was an equally exceptional athlete.

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A native of Perkaskie, Pa., Jake was a top-notch student-athlete who collegiately starred at Dartmouth.  He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1960 and was an All-Ivy League halfback during an era when the Ivies still had some of the finest football teams in the East.

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A second-team selection on the All-Ivy 25th anniversary squad and first player signed by the National Football League’s expansion Dallas Cowboys, he was dealt to the AFL’s Boston Patriots.

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Returning to his alma mater, Jake proved to be a very successful college football coach.  During his seven-year head-coaching tenure from 1971-77, Crouthamel-led Dartmouth won three consecutive Ivy League crowns and had an overall record of 41-20-2.

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Jake left the sidelines in Hanover, NH, to take over the administration of Syracuse University’s athletic department.  As SU Athletic Director from 1978-2005, he oversaw the opening of the Carrier Dome, construction and expansion of the football wing, and various facility upgrades, not to mention improvements in women’s athletics fostered by Title IX.

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He always tried to look out for the betterment of his student-athletes, while dealing with budgetary constraints often beyond his control.

During his lengthy tenure as SU’s longest-serving Athletic Director, men’s lacrosse won seven NCAA titles, men’s basketball captured the 2003 National Championship and football teams played in 12 bowl games.

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Among the Founding Fathers of the Big East Conference, Jake served as president and keyed formation of its football conference.  He was a member of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee and was on every Big East television negotiating committee.  When it came to televised college athletic contracts, administrators often sought Jake’s expertise.

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An SU honorary Letterwinner of Distinction in 1995, Jake also received the prestigious National Football Foundation’s John Toner Award in 1999.  In 2002, SU presented him with the Chancellor’s Citation for Distinguished Service.

Jake and wife Carol retired to Cape Cod and now reside once more in Hanover, NH.

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Now, Jake Crouthamel becomes a member of the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2018.