From the Desk of Dan Radakovich
Dear Canes Community,
I hope all of you had a wonderful Fourth of July weekend with friends and family. We are busy gearing up for the start of the 2023-24 school year. Football practice starts August 1 with soccer, volleyball and cross country following shortly thereafter. The Hecht Athletic Center will be buzzing with activity again before we know it!
Introducing J.D. Arteaga as Head Baseball Coach
On June 26, we hired J.D. Arteaga as the 10th head baseball coach in Miami history. J.D. has been on our staff for 21 seasons, helping the Canes earn NCAA Tournament appearances over that stretch and reach the College World Series six times. As our pitching coach he has tutored 12 All-America pitchers, including one in each of the last four seasons, and four MLB first-round draft selections.
I believe J.D. is the right leader at the right time for this program. He appreciates what makes Miami one of the crown jewels of college baseball, while also recognizing what is required to keep adding to that legacy. Congratulations to J.D.!
Football Notes
Football single-game tickets went on sale last week. We have a terrific slate of seven home games this fall, including visits from Clemson and Louisville. You can call 1-800-GO-CANES or click here to secure your seats. We can’t wait to see you cheering on the Canes at Hard Rock Stadium all season long!
Mario Cristobal and three of our football student-athletes will travel to Charlotte for ACC Kickoff, the conference’s annual preseason football media day, on Tuesday, July 25. The ACC’s preseason poll and preseason all-conference teams will also be announced. More proof that football is just around the corner!
Ring of Honor
On June 16, we announced the Football Ring of Honor’s Class of 2023, which includes legendary coaches Dennis Erickson and Jimmy Johnson as well as All-America running back Chuck Foreman. They will be inducted at halftime of our game against Clemson on October 21.
The Ring of Honor was established in 1997 and serves as the highest honor for a Canes player or coach. We are thrilled to welcome Dennis, Chuck and Jimmy to this legendary group. Dennis and Jimmy are two of the greatest coaches in college football history and presided over an incredible run of championship football in Coral Gables. Chuck is one of the best running backs in Miami’s storied history, which propelled him to a stellar NFL career. All three men are incredible ambassadors for the University of Miami, and we are looking forward to honoring them this fall!
NBA Draft
Jordan Miller and Isaiah Wong were both selected in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft, marking the fourth time in program history the Canes have had multiple draft selections. Jordan was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 48th overall pick, while the Indiana Pacers selected Isaiah with the 55th overall pick. Congratulations to Jordan and Isaiah!
ACC/SEC Challenge
The ACC/SEC Challenge debuts this upcoming basketball season, and both our men’s and women’s basketball teams will hit the road for must-see matchups. Our men’s team travels to venerable Rupp Arena to face eight-time national champion Kentucky on November 28. Our women’s team heads to Starkville, Miss., on November 29 to battle Mississippi State, which has advanced to two NCAA championship games in the past six years.
The ACC/SEC Challenge replaces the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, which was held from 2007-2022.
Academics
Our rowing team placed a program-record 28 student-athletes on the All-ACC Academic Team. Our women’s track and field (19), men’s track and field (10), baseball (seven), men’s tennis (five), women’s tennis (five) and golf (five) teams also posted strong showings in the classroom. Congratulations to all our spring sports on their academic success!
Learfield Directors’ Cup
Miami finished 49th in this year’s Learfield Directors’ Cup, which annually recognizes the schools with the best overall sports performances in an academic year. It marked our second consecutive year in the Top 50 and our best finish since 2016, when we placed 40th. We sponsor 18 sports and placed ninth among the 20 Power 5 institutions with fewer than 20 sports.
NIL
Name, Image & Likeness opportunities can help all Canes student-athletes maximize the value of their brand and learn valuable entrepreneurial skills during their time at Miami. NIL opportunities can also help you market your business.
You can connect directly with our student-athletes for endorsements, promotions, and appearances. You can also support them by contributing to the Canes Connection collective, which builds valuable partnerships with local businesses and connects those businesses with our student-athletes. Click here to learn more about Canes Connection.
Our Canes Community remains stronger than ever thanks to your continued support. Enjoy your summer and Go Canes!
Dan Radakovich
