Syracuse football legend Floyd Little will leave the university in June after working in the athletic department since 2011, Syracuse.com reported Wednesday afternoon.

The news comes just hours after former SU Director of Athletics Mark Coyle bolted Syracuse for the same job at Minnesota, but Little’s departure isn’t connected to Coyle’s. An SU spokeswoman was contacted by The Daily Orange but didn’t immediately confirm the news.

“It’s painful. But they offered a voluntary separation package, and I thought I would accept it. Still, it’s been very difficult because I have more friends here in Syracuse than any place in the world,” Little told Syracuse.com.

“It’s hard for me to leave them. I’m not looking forward to it. But the package was a good one. And, you know, it’s time. I’ve been working for 50 or 60 years. It’s time to start enjoying and do some traveling, and I’m going to take advantage of that.”

Little has served in the position of special assistant to the athletic director since returning to his alma mater, where he was an All-American on the gridiron.

Little insisted that he’s leaving on his own terms, even telling Syracuse.com that he would be allowed to stay for 10 more years if he wanted to.

“I was given a free ride, a free hand, for as long as I wanted to be here,” Little said. “They never told me they were cutting back on my position. It was as solid as anybody’s. They would have me stay as long as I wanted to stay.”

According to the story, Little and his wife DeBorah will move to their home in Las Vegas that has been vacant for the last five years.

After former SU football head coach Scott Shafer’s final press conference, Little said he’d be part of the search committee that eventually hired Dino Babers to the same position. This past year, Little’s statue was one of four erected outside the Ensley Athletic Center to commemorate a group of Syracuse football greats. He will receive an honorary degree at Sunday’s commencement ceremony.

Published on May 11, 2016 at 4:39 pm

Contact Matt: mcschnei@syr.edu | @matt_schneidman