Former Miami AD Blake James hired by Boston College. He’ll be seeing the Hurricanes often
Blake James has landed on his feet quite nicely.
James, the former University of Miami athletic director, has been named the William V. Campbell Director of Athletics at Boston College, effective July 1, per a BC news release on Wednesday.
James succeeds former BC athletic director Patrick Kraft, who was named vice president for intercollegiate athletics at Penn State in April. He was fired from his longtime tenure with the Hurricanes on Nov. 15 in a move that was part of a domino effect that in December included the hiring of new football coach Mario Cristobal and new athletic director Dan Radakovich.
Former UM football coach Manny Diaz was fired in December, and is now the Penn State linebackers coach.
James will be seeing members of Miami Hurricanes athletics for years to come, as the Boston College Eagles compete in Miami’s Atlantic Coast Conference — though in the Atlantic Division. UM belongs to the Coastal Division. UM is not scheduled to play Boston College in football in 2022.
“An experienced, nationally respected athletics administrator who established a student-athlete approach at Miami that focused on academic achievement, athletic success, and individual development, James served as the school’s director of athletics from 2013-2021, leading the Hurricanes to multiple NCAA and ACC championships across numerous sports,’’ BC wrote in its release. “In his role, he oversaw 18 varsity sports involving more than 400 student-athletes, with a staff of more than 250 individuals and an annual budget of $123 million. At Miami, he set records for athletics fundraising and led the completion of major capital projects, including new indoor facilities for football, baseball, and golf, and facility enhancements for men and women’s basketball. He negotiated and managed one of the largest collegiate sports apparel deals in the country, and significantly increased ticket sales for the school’s football and basketball programs.”
Said James in the BC release: “It is truly an honor to join the Boston College family as the William V. Campbell Director of Athletics. I am grateful to Fr. Leahy for the opportunity to lead the Eagles and for his confidence in me and in our shared vision for BC Athletics. We will strive for excellence in all of our pursuits in alignment with our Jesuit values. We will compete for championships with integrity, with incredible young men and women, and talented and compassionate coaches and staff supporting their journeys.
“Having lived in New England for eight years, our family is thrilled to return to the region and to immerse ourselves into the Boston College community,” said James. “My wife, Kelly, and I cannot wait to come to Chestnut Hill in the coming weeks, and we look forward to our children—Haley and Ryan—visiting us often while pursuing their careers and education. We are humbled by the opportunity and look forward to serving Boston College for many years to come.”
This story was originally published June 1, 2022 at 10:47 AM.
