View source for Sam Jankovich

{{Short description|American sports administrator (1934–2019)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
[[File:Reagan with Miami Hurricanes football team 1988.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Jankovich (right), [[Miami Hurricanes football]] coach [[Jimmy Johnson (American football coach)|Jimmy Johnson]] and the [[1987 Miami Hurricanes football team|1987 Miami Hurricanes team]] present [[Ronald Reagan|President Ronald Reagan]] with a [[University of Miami]] jersey at [[The White House]] after winning the [[1987 NCAA Division I-A football season|1987 national championship]], January 1988]]
'''Sam Jankovich''' (September 10, 1934 – October 30, 2019)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/sam-jankovich-miami-ad-during-rise-to-football-power-in-1980s-dies-at-84/fsuzgv1heolw1d7hpels9dshw |title=Sam Jankovich, Miami AD during rise to football power in 1980s, dies at 84 {{!}} Sporting News |website=www.sportingnews.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030193334/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/sam-jankovich-miami-ad-during-rise-to-football-power-in-1980s-dies-at-84/fsuzgv1heolw1d7hpels9dshw |archive-date=2019-10-30}} </ref> was an American sports administrator who held several positions, including [[athletic director]] at the [[Washington State Cougars|Washington State University]] and the [[Miami Hurricanes|University of Miami]].  He also was the CEO of the [[New England Patriots]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and president and general manager of the [[Las Vegas Gladiators]] of the [[Arena Football League (1987–2008)|Arena Football League]] (AFL).

== College ==
A native of [[Butte, Montana]], Jankovich earned a letter in [[college football|football]] in 1957 at the [[Montana Grizzlies football|University of Montana]] in [[Missoula, Montana|Missoula]].  His playing career was cut short by a serious knee injury; Jankovich tried to give his scholarship back but Grizzly coach [[Jerry Williams (American football)|Jerry Williams]] refused his offer.<ref name= Miss>{{Citation   |last = Schwanke |first = Bill |title = Sam Jankovich: a man who loves challenges|newspaper = Missoulian (Missoula, MT)|date = September 15, 2009 |url =http://www.missoulian.com/sports/college/montana/article_7d0c18d0-b1d8-11de-9257-001cc4c002e0.html }}</ref>

== Coaching career ==
After graduation, Jankovich became a football coach at [[Butte High School]], where he won two state championships. He later became an  assistant coach at [[Montana State Bobcats football|Montana State University]] in [[Bozeman, Montana|Bozeman]] under head coach [[Jim Sweeney (American football, born 1929)|Jim Sweeney]].  In 1968, he followed Sweeney to [[Washington State Cougars football|Washington State University]] in [[Pullman, Washington|Pullman]], where he served as head assistant coach and [[defensive coordinator]].  He left coaching in 1972, when he became an assistant to the athletic director at Washington State.<ref name= Miss/>

== Athletic administrator ==
After several years as an assistant athletic director, Jankovich succeeded [[Ray Nagel]] as WSU's athletic director in August 1976.<ref name=jnwsuad>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ofBLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6842%2C5425402 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |title=Jankovich new A.D. at Washington State |date=August 14, 1976 |page=13}}</ref> He established a reputation for building athletic facilities, primarily expanding [[Martin Stadium]] in 1979 by lowering the field and removing the track. This required the addition of the new Mooberry track facility and the relocation of the [[Bailey–Brayton Field|baseball stadium]].<ref name= Miss/>
  
In 1983, Jankovich took a job as athletic director at the [[Miami Hurricanes|University of Miami]] in southern [[Florida]], and held this position until 1990. During his tenure, Miami's [[Miami Hurricanes football|football team]] rose to perennial national power and [[Miami Hurricanes men's basketball|men's basketball]] returned after a 15-year absence. Jankovich oversaw several national championships including three in football and one each in [[Miami Hurricanes baseball|baseball]], men's and women's [[tennis]], and women's [[golf]].<ref name= Miss/>

== NFL ==
In December<!--20,--> [[1990 New England Patriots season|1990]], Jankovich was hired by [[Victor Kiam]] as [[chief executive officer]] of the [[New England Patriots]].<ref name=jatorebf>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SqxJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jw4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1590%2C1389013 |newspaper=Bangor Daily News |location=(Maine) |agency=Associated Press |title=Jankovich accepts task of rebuilding Patriots' fortunes |date=December 21, 1990 |page=12 }}</ref> He was hired to rebuild the team after a league-worst 1–15 finish, while being plagued by off-the-field problems.<ref name=jatorebf/><ref>{{Citation   |last = AP |title = Patriots Hire Jankovich |newspaper = The New York Times|date = December 21, 1990 |url =https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/21/sports/sports-people-pro-football-patriots-hire-jankovich.html }}</ref> He left after two seasons,  as the Patriots went 6–10 in [[1991 New England Patriots season|1991]] and 2–14 in [[1992 New England Patriots season|1992]].<ref name=jqapceo>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E75YAAAAIBAJ&sjid=F_ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=1772%2C5933351 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Jankovich quits as Patriots' CEO |date=January 10, 1993 |page=C4}}</ref>

== Later life ==
Jankovich then worked as a consultant to various corporations and universities including doing fundraising for the U.S. Olympic Committee.  He would eventually become president and general manager of the Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena Football League.<ref name= Miss/>

==1979 highway collision==
In the summer of 1979, Jankovich was involved in a fatal highway collision north of Pullman on a Sunday afternoon.<ref name=tkihc >{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h2sjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5408%2C1031062 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=3 killed in auto crashes |date=July 2, 1979 |page=1 }}</ref><ref name=cjtbcl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XFhUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4Y4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4527%2C1060799 |newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record |location=(Washington) |agency=UPI |title=Coroner's jury to be called |date=July 16, 1979 |page=10 }}</ref> He apparently fell asleep at the wheel and crossed the center line, but did not face criminal charges.<ref name=jcjimhp>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NyJMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7160%2C3260843 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |title=Jury clears Jankovich in mishap |date=July 26, 1979 |page=39 }}</ref><ref name=wsuedb>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PqVfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3505%2C3885245 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |title=WSU sued by widow of man killed in Jankovich crash |date=August 12, 1980 |page=1C }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Washington State Cougars athletic director navbox}}
{{Miami Hurricanes athletic director navbox}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jankovich, Sam}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:Miami Hurricanes athletic directors]]
[[Category:Montana Grizzlies football players]]
[[Category:New England Patriots executives]]
[[Category:Washington State Cougars athletic directors]]
[[Category:Washington State Cougars football coaches]]
[[Category:NFL general managers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Butte, Montana]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Montana]]
[[Category:American people of Serbian descent]]