From the Desk of Dan Radakovich
Dear Canes Community,
Happy New Year! It was an exciting 2023 for the Miami Hurricanes and we’re looking forward to even more success in 2024. Your continued support helps us provide the best resources for our student-athletes to flourish both on and off the field. Thank you from all of us at UM Athletics!
Bright Football Future
The Canes battled hard but lost a tight 31-24 contest to Rutgers last week in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Thank you to all the Hurricanes fans who supported us in the Big Apple and thank you to the New York Yankees for putting on such a spectacular event.
The future looks bright as head coach Mario Cristobal enters his third season in 2024. We currently have the nation’s fourth-ranked recruiting class, and several young players on the 2023 roster made significant contributions on both sides of the ball.
We have a terrific slate of home games at Hard Rock Stadium in 2024, including visits from Florida State and Virginia Tech. Season tickets are on sale now. Call 1-800-GO-CANES or click here to secure your seats for this fall!
ACC Play Heating Up
As the calendar flips to 2024, our basketball teams are diving into conference play in the always competitive ACC.
Jim Larrañaga’s men’s basketball squad is 10-2 heading into a key ACC tilt Wednesday night against No. 18 Clemson. Tipoff is 8 p.m. on ESPN. The Canes are 8-0 at home this season and we will need every ounce of energy from the home crowd against the Tigers. We hope to see you at Watsco on Wednesday!
Katie Meier’s women’s squad is also 10-2 after dropping a tough conference opener Sunday against No. 19 Louisville. The Canes will look to bounce back and get their first ACC win Thursday night at Boston College. Tipoff is 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
Single-game tickets are on sale for both men’s and women’s basketball. Call 1-800-GO-CANES or click here to reserve your seats today!
Welcome Ken Masuhr
Last month we announced Ken Masuhr as out new head soccer coach. Ken previously spent nine seasons at Vanderbilt, the past six as associate head coach and recruiting coordinator. Ken is a relentless recruiter and tactician who has a clear vision for how to build all aspects of a successful soccer program. Please join me in welcoming Ken and his family to Coral Gables!
Olympic Sports Update
Our swimming and diving team hosts Iowa and Vanderbilt Tuesday afternoon at Whitten Pool. Our men’s tennis team opens its spring schedule Friday, hosting Arizona State, LSU and Texas in the three-day Miami Invitational. Come out to the Neil Schiff Tennis Center this weekend to see some outstanding tennis action!
Graduate Canes
Thirty-seven student-athletes earned their undergraduate or graduate degrees at UM’s December commencement exercises at Watsco Center. Graduation is a significant milestone for our student-athletes, and I am extremely proud of what this group of Hurricanes has accomplished. I am excited to see where their life’s journey takes them from here, and they will always have a home at the University of Miami.
One of those 37 was legendary running back Frank Gore, who returned to earn his undergraduate degree. Frank Gore played at UM from 2001-04 before embarking on a 16-year career in the National Football League. He ranks third in the NFL in career rushing yards. Congratulations, Frank!
School Record GSR
Our student-athletes set a school record by posting an NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 94 percent. The 94 percent mark bests the previous school record of 93 percent, which was set in both 2012 and 2022. This is the eighth consecutive year and 11th year in the past 12 that Miami has earned a four-year average rate of 90 percent or higher. The Hurricanes’ GSR is higher than the national average of 90 percent.
I am proud of our student-athletes for continuing to raise the bar on our GSR numbers. It’s a reflection of their commitment to their academic pursuits, as well as the continued support of our coaching and academic support staffs.
Canes Connection
Canes Connection – our Official NIL Collective – continues to develop partnerships to benefit student-athletes with the goal of helping Miami build the most successful NIL program in college athletics. Canes Connection empowers student-athletes to help maximize their full potential by fostering and developing their individual brands, business acumen, and marketing expertise, while still achieving success in competition and in the classroom. Click here to learn more about Canes Connection.
Our Canes Community remains stronger than ever thanks to your generosity. Happy New Year and Go Canes!
Dan Radakovich
