Sam Jankovich, who headed three athletics departments during his career (University of Miami, Washington State University (WSU), Cal State Northridge), took each institution to new heights as their director of athletics.

During his nine years at WSU, he established a reputation for building facilities and was there when the Pacific Eight Conference became the Pac-10. WSU dramatically expanded its football stadium and added both a new track facility and baseball stadium. During his tenure, WSU went to a bowl game for the first time in 50 years and made two NCAA Tournament appearances.

Jankovich's performance at Washington State propelled him into the athletics director position at Miami, where he stayed from 1983-90. Miami's football team rose to perennial national contender status and its men's basketball team returned to the campus after a 15-year absence. Athletics fundraising also quadrupled during his time there to more than $3 million. While Jankovich was at Miami, the Hurricane football team won four national championships with three different head coaches, while national titles were also won in baseball and women's golf.

Jankovich would later move on to become the chief executive officer of the New England Patriots from 1991-93. Since leaving that post, he has worked as a consultant to various corporations and universities including a fundraising stint for the U.S. Olympic Committee.