Miami Hurricanes Fire Their AD

Miami Herald (click for full article) https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article254971492.html

The University of Miami has fired athletic director Blake James. UM said Monday evening that the university and James “today mutually agreed to part ways.’’ The decision, however, was made by UM president Julio Frenk. The firing comes two days after Miami football lost its rivalry game at Florida State with 26 seconds left. “The University of Miami and Director of Athletics Blake James today mutually agreed to part ways,’’ UM wrote in a release. “James’ 17 years at the University — including eight as athletics director— were marked by class and integrity. He served in several ACC and NCAA leadership roles and earned national recognition from his peers during his time with the Hurricanes. “A national search for the University’s next athletics director will begin immediately.”

It is believed former UM quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta would be among those who have interest in the job. UM deputy director of athletics Jennifer Strawley will serve as interim athletic director during the search, UM said. “Strawley will work closely and collaboratively with the president, as well as with Rudy Fernandez, in his role as chief of staff to the president, and Joe Echevarria, in his role as senior advisor to the president.’’ James, named the UM athletic director in 2013 after serving a few months as interim director, has been highly criticized by football fans and former players upset by the direction in which the program has turned.

DIAZ’S FUTURE

The future of Miami coach Manny Diaz at this point is still unknown, but the anticipation is UM will likely make a coaching change. James chose Diaz to succeed Mark Richt just 10 hours after Richt announced his retirement on Dec. 30, 2018, as UM’s 25th head football coach to replace Richt, who retired with a 26-13 record in three seasons.

James, who obviously hand-picked Diaz, had been under immense pressure from his angry detractors for being too hasty in the hiring and not undertaking a full-fledged search. Current successful Oregon coach Mario Cristobal — a former Hurricanes offensive lineman and UM assistant coach who grew up in Miami and was the head FIU coach from 2007 to 2012 — would be the overwhelmingly popular choice to replace Diaz and has been mentioned as a likely target, should Diaz be dismissed. In football, UM, the winner of national championships in 1983, 87, 89, 91 and 2001, has lost seven of its past 12 games dating to 2020, and seven of its past 10 games against opponents in Power 5 conferences. UM’s last win over a non-ACC Power 5 opponent was Nov. 11, 2017, against Notre Dame. UM football is now 5-5 overall and 3-3 in the Atlantic Coast Coast Conference, needing one victory in its final two regular-season games to qualify for a bowl. Its loss at struggling FSU took Miami out of ACC contention. Miami canceled its football media access for Tuesday.