Syracuse athletic director Mark Coyle was hired Wednesday to take the same position at Minnesota.
Coyle, 47, was on campus Wednesday to interview with Minnesota's search committee and meet with coaches, faculty and other senior officials in what the university called "the final steps" of its search.
"I regret the timing, but I am so grateful for the opportunity,'' Coyle said.
Syracuse announced Coyle's departure, saying he is taking a position at Minnesota for "family reasons." Coyle is a native of Waterloo, Iowa, who served as an associate athletic director at Minnesota from 2001-05. He was responsible for managing marketing, sales, communications, ticketing and licensing.
"I've been in this for a long time. We love this place,'' Coyle said, fighting back tears and pausing to collect himself.
He spent less than a year as Syracuse's athletic director, taking the position in June after serving as AD at Boise State since December 2011. Coyle also has been deputy athletic director at Kentucky.
Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim, speaking to Syracuse.com, called Coyle's departure "shocking."
Syracuse football coach Dino Babers was in a meeting at the ACC spring meetings Wednesday and was unaware that Coyle was leaving until asked by ESPN.
"Are you serious? No comment," Babers told ESPN's Brett McMurphy. "I thought I would be polite and I had my phone off in the meeting."
Coyle hired Babers from Bowling Green in December.
Notre Dame basketball coach Mike Brey told ESPN, "I think they should make Boeheim the AD."
Minnesota began searching for a permanent athletic director in August after Norwood Teague resigned amid allegations that he sexually harassed two university employees. Deputy athletic director Beth Goetz took over as interim athletic director and was considered a strong candidate for the permanent position.
The Star Tribune reported Tuesday that Goetz, Northern Illinois athletic director Sean Frazier, Penn State deputy AD Phil Esten and an unknown candidate were finalists for the job.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.