Greenville Leader

The search is on for a new athletics director at Clemson University, where Dan Radakovich left the Tigers to helm the sports programs at the University of Miami. 

In a  university release, Clemson University President James P. Clements lauded the contributions made by Radakovich during his nine years as AD, while wishing him the best as he starts a new chapter in South Florida. 

“Under Dan’s leadership as director of athletics, Clemson teams won 15 ACC championships, the football program won two College Football Playoff national championships, and student-athletes have graduated at consistently high rates and posted record GPAs,” Clements said in the release. “He also led a transformation of our athletics facilities, including continued improvements to Memorial Stadium, a complete overhaul of Littlejohn Coliseum, practice and operational facilities for football, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, tennis, and the Nieri Family Student-Athlete Enrichment Center.” 

The Hurricanes were searching for a new AD after firing Blake James two days after Miami’s gridiron loss to Florida State, according to a Tampa Bay Times report. 

The success of the Clemson football program likely proved to be an attraction for the Hurricanes, according to the publication, with Radakovich being instrumental in the Tigers’ rise as a football power under coach Dabo Swinney. 

The Times noted that under the leadership of Radakovich and Swinney, the Tigers played in four national title games, winning twice. 

According to the Times, Radakovich will be joined by former Oregon coach Mario Cristobal, a former Hurricane player who was named as the team’s new football coach. 

Clements said the search for a replacement for Radakovich would begin immediately, and he noted in the release that Graham Neff, the school’s deputy athletics director, would serve as acting AD. 

Neff served with Radakovich for eight years, and Clements expressed his confidence in Neff’s leadership, according to the release.