CLEMSON — When Dan Radakovich was officially named Clemson’s 13 athletic director on December 1, 2012, he had no idea what was about to happen. Neither did Clemson.

With his leadership, Clemson Athletics, especially the football program, was about to enter a level of success the school had never seen before. At the end of his first month on the job, he saw Dabo Swinney and the Tigers knock off No. 7 LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, which spearheaded the greatest run in Clemson history.

From that night in Atlanta, through the 2020 season, Clemson Football won more games, more national championships and more conference championships than in any other decade.

But all things come to an end eventually, and on December 9, 2021, Radakovich took over as the director of athletics at the University of Miami.

At the time, no one knew how significant Radakovich’s departure would be for Clemson Football.

Granted, the Tigers have had some success on the gridiron since Radakovich left for Miami, but not to the level it once had. Clemson has won a couple of ACC Championships and has made the College Football Playoff once, but nothing like it did before.

Is Radakovich the reason behind Clemson Football’s success?

I would not say he was the sole reason, but he played a role for its longer-term success, which started by showing a commitment to football Clemson had never seen before. Facilities, recruiting budget, you name it — Radakovich was “all in” to building a national power at Clemson.

And he did.

Now, if you have noticed, he is doing the same thing in Miami.

All of a sudden, football has become king again in Miami. The Hurricanes find themselves two wins away from a national championship.

Over the last two years, Miami has been the best program in the ACC, though it has not won an ACC Championship, yet. Last year, they went 10-3 and just missed the CFP. This year, they are 12-2 and will play Ole Miss in the CFP Semifinals next week.

The Hurricanes knocked off Texas A&M in the first round and then defending national champion Ohio State in the quarterfinals.

Miami is winning with a seasoned quarterback, a hard-nosed running game that runs behind a veteran offensive line and a defensive front that sets the tone for its defense.

Sound familiar?

It should.

When he was at Clemson, Radakovich did whatever it took to get the Tigers to the top of the mountain. Now, he is doing it again in Miami.

The Hurricanes have embraced the NIL and transfer portal era like no one else has — they know how to use both to get them where they need to be.

While Clemson fell behind and dropped off in football the last few years, Radakovich has helped Miami embrace the new world of college athletics, especially college football.