Miami AD Blake James Out Days After Hurricanes' Loss To FSU

Blake James is no longer the athletic director of the University of Miami Hurricanes.

The University of Miami and James mutually agreed to part ways on Monday — just two days after the Hurricanes lost to the Florida State Seminoles — the school announced Monday.

James was at Miami for 17 years, where he spent 8 years as the athletic director, and the program said his time was "marked by class and integrity."

The school said a national search for the university's next athletic director will begin immediately.

“It has been an honor to lead Miami athletics and to be a part of such a world-class institution,” James in a Monday statement. “I am proud of the work that we have done together, though I know there is still more yet to be achieved. I want to thank our University leadership, our athletics staff, our coaches, and especially our incredible student-athletes for their commitment to excellence and for believing in what the University of Miami can accomplish. I wish the Canes nothing but the best and look forward to my next endeavors.”

The move was made about six weeks after school president Julio Frenk released a letter to the university community insisting he would increase his involvement with athletics and saying “we are fully committed to building championship-caliber teams at The U," the Associated Press reports.

“I want to thank Blake for his years of service to the University of Miami,” Frenk said. “Paired with The U’s storied history in intercollegiate sports, the enhancements Blake championed—in areas ranging from student-athlete support and academic achievement to community outreach and facility upgrades—give us a solid foundation on which to build.”

James’ tenure as athletic director began in 2013, and since then, Miami student-athletes and teams captured five NCAA individual championships, six ACC team titles, and 71 individual ACC titles.

Miami has made facility enhancements during James' tenure, including the $40 million Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility, the Jimmy and Kim Klotz Baseball Player Development Center, and the Schwartz Center for Athletic Excellence.

For now, the school said Miami's deputy director of athletics Jennifer Strawley will serve as interim athletic director during the search period and will work closely and collaboratively with the president and his staff.

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