University of Miami Vice President and Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich will retire effective June 1, 2026, the university announced April 28. Radakovich returned to the University of Miami in December 2021, nearly 40 years after beginning his athletics career in the university’s Athletics Business Office. He earned his MBA from the University of Miami School of Business.
Radakovich received one of the 2026 NACDA Division I Athletic Directors of the Year Award during his tenure. Miami Athletics reached several program milestones under his leadership, while its television viewership ranked among the strongest in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Miami football program reached the College Football Playoff National Championship Game during the most recent season.
Miami Athletics milestones
Miami men’s basketball reached its first Final Four in 2023, and Miami women’s basketball advanced to its first Elite Eight that year. Six Hurricanes won NCAA individual national championships during Radakovich’s tenure. Miami Athletics also matched its school record with an NCAA Graduation Success Rate of 94 percent during the most recent academic year.
Miami student-athletes recorded a department-record semester grade-point average of 3.40 during the most recent fall semester. All 18 Miami programs exceeded a 3.0 grade-point average for the first time in school history during that semester. The Hurricanes won the NCAA Team Works Community Service Competition in 2022 and 2024.
Leadership transition
University of Miami President Joe Echevarria credited Radakovich with helping rebuild and advance Miami Athletics during a transformative period. “Dan came to us with an outstanding track record. I’ve enjoyed working with him as we’ve rebuilt and advanced Miami Athletics during an incredibly transformative time. Dan is a person of high character and has been an invaluable thought partner. I will continue to seek his advice and counsel going forward and wish him and his family all the best in what comes next.”
Radakovich said returning to the university had been a privilege and that the program was ready for fresh leadership. “Serving the University of Miami again has been an absolute privilege. This place means everything to me, and I’m proud of what our student-athletes, coaches and staff have accomplished together. The program is in a great place, and it’s the right time for fresh leadership to shape what comes next.”
A national search is being conducted for Radakovich’s successor. Deputy directors Brian Baptiste and Rachelle Paul will serve as interim co-leaders and report directly to President Joe Echevarria. Radakovich is the past president of LEAD1, now the FBS AD Association, which represents Division I athletic directors.
Radakovich was named the 2017 Sports Business Journal Athletic Director of the Year. He was one of 13 people appointed to the first College Football Playoff selection committee in 2014 and is serving on the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Oversight Committee.
Source: Original report