Syracuse Athletic Director Daryl Gross released a statement on Friday, following the announcement that Chancellor Nancy Cantor will leave Syracuse University when her contract ends in June 2014.

Gross was hired as SU athletic director in December 2004, a little more than a month after Cantor was inaugurated as the university’s chancellor. In his statement, Gross called Cantor the “finest possible guardian of Syracuse University.”

The statement reads: “Chancellor Cantor is one of the greatest and most brilliant leaders I have ever met. She is so much about making the world a better place and she continually proves she can do it.

“Personally, I am so proud to work for her as she has inspired our vision in athletics to amazing heights.Her support for SU athletics is unmatched as she has always been there for the department and has helped lead us to the greatest success across the board in the history of the school.

“She is a renaissance thinker and has established Syracuse as a global brand. I wish my esteemed Chancellor and friend only the best going forward as she has been the finest possible guardian of Syracuse University.”