Sam Jankovich

A native of Butte, Montana, Jankovich earned a letter in football in 1957 at the University of Montana in Missoula. His playing career was cut short by a serious knee injury; Jankovich tried to give his scholarship back but Grizzly coach Jerry Williams refused his offer.{{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 }}

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 University in Bozeman under head coach Jim Sweeney. In 1968, he followed Sweeney to Washington State University in 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.

After several years as an assistant athletic director, Jankovich succeeded Ray Nagel as WSU's athletic director in August 1976.{{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}} 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 baseball stadium.

In 1983, Jankovich took a job as athletic director at the University of Miami in southern Florida, and held this position until 1990. During his tenure, Miami's football team rose to perennial national power and men's basketball returned after a 15-year absence. Jankovich oversaw several national championships including three in football and one each in baseball, men's and women's tennis, and women's golf.

In December 1990, Jankovich was hired by Victor Kiam as chief executive officer of the New England Patriots.{{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 }} He was hired to rebuild the team after a league-worst 1–15 finish, while being plagued by off-the-field problems.{{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 }} He left after two seasons, as the Patriots went 6–10 in 1991 and 2–14 in 1992.{{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}}

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.

In the summer of 1979, Jankovich was involved in a fatal highway collision north of Pullman on a Sunday afternoon.{{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 }}{{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 }} He apparently fell asleep at the wheel and crossed the center line, but did not face criminal charges.{{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 }}{{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 }}

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Category:1934 births

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