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RIP Sam Jankovich

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SrfGtr said:
RIP

The real reason the []_[] became a powerhouse .
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Don't know that I agree with that. He was a major player in our dominance, but others were significant. I can't remember what year he came to the U, but there were others who made major contributions to start our rise, some of whom were there before Sam, including Howard Schnellenberger and even Lou Saban.

I actually worked on some events for Sam. He was tough as nails, very demanding, and a visionary.

I wonder what would have happened had Sam stayed at the U.
 
GladeCane said:
Got to Miami in 1983 and promptly hired Johnson, then followed with Erickson. When he left in 1990, Miami won 3 NCs in football, 1 in baseball, mens/womens tennis and golf. Brought basketball back.
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Yes. I think he overlapped with Schnellenberger for the '83 championship season. I used to wonder about that relationship. Two very strong personalities, wouldn't be surprised if they clashed and maybe Howard did not want to work under Sam. So he left.

Sam probably would not have hired Larry Coker, Randy Shannon, or Manny. Sam was adamant about not hiring as a head coach someone who had never been a head coach. He had had a very bad experience at one of the schools where Sam had previously served as AD. I don't know any of the names, I just remember Sam telling the story. He was insistent that he would only take someone who had a track record as a head coach. That being said, I never understood why he hired someone as obscure as Jimmy Johnson. Jimmy had a mediocre 30-25 record at Oklahoma State.

Turned out to be a great hire. Maybe Sam saw some things that were not obvious to most. After all, as far as I know, Sam never had any connection, coming from the Pacific Northwest, to the Frank Broyles-Johnny Majors-Jackie Sherrill coaching tree which was Jimmy's background.
 
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Personal interactions with AD Sam Jankovich as an athlete in the '80's would lead me to say he was a genuine a-hole, but I was in a non-revenue sport and we were probably just an annoyance to him.

As an AD he had a tremendous impact, he couldn't save Schnellenberger from leaving, but he spent his entire time under the uncooperative Tad Foote trying to keep the machine running. He came in 1983 and got to watch the first title win but then had to search for a coach in Jimmy Johnson. He had great success and Dennis Erickson was handpicked by Jankovich and then Sam left and Erickson let the program go down, although still competitive until sanctions hit.

We were lucky to have Sam Jankovich at the U, a big part of the building of a historical run in football.
 
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TheMatador said:
Need to name something after him. Maybe a field house, etc. Whatever might be available and appropriate. Something not yet built.
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I also think the The U football team (and the rest of The U's other sports teams) should wear an arm band with Sam's initials for this game and for the rest of this and next season. RIP Sam Jankovich! A great AD, and unquestionably the best Miami AD in at least the last 50 years. My condolences to the entire Jankovich family!
 
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