Dan Radakovich became Clemson's 13^th Director of Athletics on December 1, 2012.  He came to Clemson with a wealth of experience after serving in significant athletic administrative roles at Miami (FL), Long Beach State, South Carolina and LSU in addition to athletic directorships at American University and Georgia Tech.  His athletic administrative career spans nearly 30 years.

Radakovich came to Clemson from nearby Georgia Tech, where he had served with distinction for six years (2006-12).  Just the fifth Clemson Athletic Director since 1940, he replaced Dr. Terry Don Phillips, who retired after over 10 years directing the Clemson program.

"Dan Radakovich understands the academic, business and competitive aspects of college athletics," said Clemson President Jim Barker in making the announcement of his appointment on October 29.

"He knows what it takes to win championships, he has a proven track record in fundraising and revenue growth, and he is committed to compliance and student-athlete welfare. He has been successful in the ACC and SEC, and he is known and respected among coaches and athletic directors nationwide."

The Georgia Tech program had 51 teams advance to either NCAA team tournament play or bowl games in his six years.  That includes five sports (football, women's basketball, softball, women's tennis and golf) that made the postseason every year he was in Atlanta.  Baseball missed just once.

Eleven different sports programs finished in the final top 25 of at least one major poll 27 times.  That includes a National Championship women's tennis program in 2007, just the second NCAA team title in Georgia Tech history.  There were 14 ACC championships celebrated in addition to nine regular season conference or division titles.

The football program played in a bowl game each year he was at Georgia Tech, including the 2010 Fed Ex Orange Bowl, the program's first BCS level Bowl appearance since the 1967 Orange Bowl.

On an individual basis, the program had 51 first-team All-Americans in 10 different sports, 30 academic All-Americans, two National Coach of the Year selections and two National Player of the Year selections.  The program had 13 ACC Coach of the Year and 13 ACC Player of the Year choices as well.

"I am truly honored to join the Clemson family, and I wish to express my appreciation to President Barker and the Board of Trustees for this incredible opportunity," said Radakovich. "Clemson is synonymous with success on and off the fields of competition, and I look forward to continuing the tradition of excellence."

The construction of new facilities or upgrades to existing ones was a focus of Radakovich's tenure. The John and Mary Brock Football Practice Facility, which opened in August, 2011, and McCamish Pavilion, which opened in November, 2012, are two of the top facilities of their kind in college athletics.

Radakovich also saw the completion of Shirley Clements Mewborn Field, home for Tech's softball program, which was unveiled prior to the start of the 2009 season. The Zelnak Center, a practice facility for Georgia Tech basketball, was in place prior to the start of the 2009-10 season.

Other facility upgrades under Radakovich include the transformation of Tech's former football locker room on the ground floor of the Edge Athletic Center into a new Technology Center, which benefits academic support services for all Yellow Jacket student-athletes, and cosmetic and functional improvements to Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Radakovich also initiated the Athletic Director's Initiative Fund, started in June, 2006, which raised in cash and pledges more than $12 million.

Radakovich has also played an integral role in fund-raising initiatives for facility projects including McCamish Pavilion, the John and Mary Brock Football Practice Facility and the Byers Tennis Complex.

The native of Alliquipa, PA was first made aware of Clemson athletics through the basketball exploits of Butch Zatezalo, who was also from the same town.  Zatezalo was a three-time All-ACC player whose legendary 25-point scoring nights received a lot of attention in Pennsylvania in the 1960s when Radakovich was a youth.

Prior to his tenure at Georgia Tech, Radakovich worked as a Senior Associate Athletic Director at LSU from 2001-06.  He had many responsibilities that dealt with the football program and worked closely with then Head Coach Nick Saban, including the year the Tigers won the National Championship (2003).

Radakovich became an Athletic Director for the first time at American University in Washington DC in 2000.

Between 1994-2000, Radakovich served as Chief Financial Officer at the University of South Carolina.  During that time he worked with current Clemson football administrators Brad Scott and Woody McCorvey.

Radakovich gained experience on the West Coast from 1989-94 when he was a Senior Associate Athletic Director at Long Beach State.  He got his start in administration at the University of Miami (FL) in 1983 as the athletic business manager.

His résumé includes experience in private business in the early 1980s working in the Miami area for Ernst and Young CPA firm, The Travelers Insurance Company and Margaretten & Company, a mortgage banker.

Radakovich is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (1980) where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance.  He was also a member of the football letterman and student coach.  He was enshrined into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame in April, 2008, and was recognized as a Distinguished Alumni from IUP in March, 2009.

He earned his Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Miami (FL) in 1982.

The 54-year-old Radakovich and his wife Marcie have two children, Christian and Grant.

Clemson Athletic Directors Through the Years
1896-1910 - Walter Merritt Riggs
1910-12 - Frank Dobson
1913-15 - Bob Williams
1916 - Wayne Hart
1917-20 - Edward Donahue
1921-22 - E.J. Stewart
1927-30 - Mutt Gee
1931-39 - Jess Neely
1940-71 - Frank Howard
1971-85 - Bill McLellan
1985-2002 - Bobby Robinson
2002-12 - Terry Don Phillips
2012- Dan Radakovich

Facts on Dan Radakovich
Date of Birth:  June 9, 1958 in Sewickley, PA
Family:  Wife Marcie and children Christian and Grant
Education:  Bachelor of Science in Finance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 1980; Masters of Business Administration from University of Miami (FL), 1982
High School:  Center High School near Aliquippa, PA
Playing Experience:  Football letterman and student coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Athletic Administration History

• Athletic Business Manager, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 1983-85
• Senior Associate Athletic Director, Long Beach State University, Long Beach, CA, 1989-94
• Associate Athletic Director/CFO, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 1994-2000
• Director of Athletics, American University, Washington, DC, 2000-01
• Senior Associate Athletics Director, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 2001-06
• Director of Athletics, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, 2006-12

Other Work Experience

• Accountant, Ernst & Whinney, CPA, Miami, FL, 1982-83
• Health Care Consultant, Travelers Insurance, Miami, FL, 1985-87
• Mortgage Banker, Margaretten & Co, Miami, FL, 1987-89