CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich is planning to retire with a formal announcement expected in the coming days, a person with knowledge of the decision said Friday night.
A search is underway for Radakovich's successor, and the university is considering multiple candidates, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because none of that information was revealed publicly by the university.
A university athletic department spokesperson declined to comment Friday night.
Radakovich — who got his masters degree from Miami and returned to his alma mater after a long stint as athletic director at Clemson — has led the Hurricanes' athletic department since December 2021.
Radakovich's time as athletic director has seen some great successes, including five individual national champions in diving, tennis, track and field. The football team — which set a record with more than 510,000 tickets sold to regular-season home games last season — played in the College Football Playoff national championship game in January. The men's basketball team went to the Final Four in 2023 and the women's basketball team made the Elite Eight that same year.
Radakovich hired eight coaches and extended contracts of seven others in his four-plus years with the Hurricanes, who are currently expanding their indoor football practice facility and have opened new training homes for the baseball, basketball and rowing programs during his tenure.
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FILE - Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich speaks during a news conference Aug. 25, 2025, in Coral Gables, Fla., in advance of Sunday's NCAA college football game against Notre Dame. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kayden McDonald and Colton Hood spent three long hours in the green room inside Acrisure Stadium on Thursday night all dressed up with nowhere to go.
The players remained backstage while the 15 other NFL draft prospects in attendance made their way to the stage to hug NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected in the first round.
McDonald and Hood's time would have to wait until Friday, though not for very long.
The Houston Texans selected McDonald, the burly 6-foot-3, 326-pound defensive tackle from Ohio State with the fourth pick of the second round. Hood, a cornerback from Tennessee, went to the New York Giants with the next selection.
McDonald chose to return to the green room on Friday, though this time he had traded the suit he had on Thursday while walking the red carpet for a far more casual fit. Wearing a black short-sleeved button down shirt, a white T-shirt and a chain, McDonald was visibly shaken as he made the slightly delayed talk toward Goodell.
The commissioner and McDonald embraced for a long moment, the tears streaking down McDonald's face hard to miss.
“It’s emotional man,” McDonald said. “I knew I’m supposed to be here. I’m just so blessed.”
McDonald added he's blessed to join the Texans, who finished last season with the NFL's top-ranked defense and bludgeoned the Pittsburgh Steelers in the opening round of the playoffs.
Asked what he can add to a unit that's already among the league's best, McDonald didn't hesitate.
“Disruptive, making it easier for the (defensive) end,” McDonald said. “We all go to work.”
While McDonald stuck around, Hood did not, opting to head home to Atlanta instead, where Hood said he felt more comfortable because he could be surrounded by even more friends and family.
When Hood's name was called by Goodell, who had former Giants star defensive end Osi Umenyiora at his side, the videoboard behind them merely flashed a picture of Hood wearing Tennessee orange.
“Way to go Colton,” Goodell said before retreating backstage before the next selection.
The distance between the epicenter of the NFL universe this weekend and Atlanta did little to dampen the joy Hood felt when a lifelong dream was realized.
While sitting around on Thursday was disappointing, Hood doesn't view having to wait an additional 24 hours as a bad thing.
“I know God does everything for a reason,” he said. "He was probably preventing me from something, or he has something better in store for me and that being the Giants.”
Hood admitted he was a little surprised he heard from New York. Maybe he shouldn't have been. First-year Giants coach John Harbaugh coached Hood's uncle, former NFL defensive back Roderick Hood, when both were in Philadelphia in the early 2000s.
If anything, what happened on Thursday night just added a significantly large chip to Hood's shoulder.
Asked if the perceived first-round snub is motivation, Hood said "for sure, but I’d say it’s more just wanting to prove the Giants right and just thanking them for taking the chance on me.”
AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald puts on a hat after being chosen by the Houston Texans with the 36th overall pick during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald reacts after being chosen by the Houston Texans with the 36th overall pick during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald puts on a hat after being chosen by the Houston Texans with the 36th overall pick during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald, right, reacts with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the Houston Texans with the 36th overall pick during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
