Dan Radakovich retires as UM AD, Michael Yormark targeted to replace him
The University of Miami announced on Tuesday that Vice President and Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich will retire effective June 1.
Radakovich’s impending retirement, which the Herald reported last week, ends a four-year tenure which included major hires, historic athletic achievements, and a 94 percent graduation rate. His contract ran through the end of the year, but after several weeks of discussions with school president Joe Echavarria, he decided to retire now
“Serving the University of Miami again has been an absolute privilege,” Radakovich, 67, said in a news release. “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.”
Former Florida Panthers president Michael Yormark is the top choice to replace Radakovich, according to a source with direct knowledge of the discussions. Yormark was president of the Panthers from 2007 through 2013 and has been working as President and Chief of Branding and Strategy at Roc Nation since then. He has been offered the UM job, a source said.
Yormark is a Boca Raton resident, and his daughter is on the UM dance team.
According to the source, Miami has long targeted Yormark, believing he is adept at deal making and fundraising in the ever-changing, NIL-focused world of college athletics.
UM said a national search is underway for Radakovich’s successor. Deputy directors Brian Baptiste and Rachelle Paul will serve as co-leaders in the interim.
Radakovich returned to the University of Miami in December 2021, nearly 40 years after he started his athletics career working in UM’s Athletics Business Office. While there, he earned his MBA from the School of Business.
During his tenure, UM made the college football national championship game this past January, qualified for the men’s Final Four for the first time (in 2023) and qualified for the Elite Eight in the women’s basketball tournament for the first time, also in 2023.
Six Miami Hurricanes won individual NCAA championships during his time at the helm.
Mario Cristobal was hired as football coach just before Radakovich’s hire, but Radakovich made several significant hires, including 37-year-old basketball coach Jai Lucas, who led the biggest turnaround in the nation and guided the Hurricanes to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.
Radakovich also hired baseball coach JD Arteaga and oversaw fund-raising and execution of several on-campus projects, including an on-going renovation of the school’s primarily athletic building.
He won the 2026 NACDA Division I Athletic Directors of the Year Award.
Echevarria said: “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.”
This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 5:29 PM.