Building champions
Through determination and dedication, student-athletes are driven to achieve personal, academic, and athletic excellence. As builders of community and agents of change, Miami Hurricanes continue to position themselves in ways that allow their talent to contribute to and create great impact in our world. Explore highlights from talented student-athletes and coaches, as well as those who support their successes.
Academic excellence
- The 2020-21 ACC honor roll included 213 student-athletes.
- Student-athletes averaged a 3.0-plus cumulative GPA for the 15th consecutive semester.
- The NCAA graduation success rate was 94 percent.
- Eleven programs achieved perfect Academic Progress Rate scores of 1,000.
- Student-athletes performed 3,420 hours of community service.
- The athletics department had a perfect score of 100 on the Athlete Ally Athletic Equality Index.
Competitive edge
- Eleven teams advanced to postseason play, and the football team played in its eighth consecutive bowl game.
- Michelle Atherley (women’s heptathlon) and Estela Perez-Somarriba (women’s singles) both placed second at their respective NCAA championships.
- Eleven ’Canes earned first-team All-America honors in their respective sports—Michelle Atherley (track and field), Jose Borregales (football), Zach Cooper (diving), Emma Gulstrand (diving), Carson Palmquist (baseball), Estela Perez-Somarriba (tennis), Isabella Pfennig (tennis), Jaelan Phillips (football), Brodie Scapens (diving), Alfreda Steele (track and field), and Mia Vallée (diving).
- Estela Perez-Somarriba was named both ITA National Player of the Year and ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women’s tennis. She concluded her career with 165 singles wins, the most wins in the University’s history and the second most in ACC history.
- Debbie Ajagbe again earned ACC Indoor Field Performer of the Year, and Michelle Atherley was named ACC Outdoor Field Performer of the Year.
- Nataliya Guseva became the first ’Canes golfer to earn ACC Freshman of the Year honors.
- Jose Borregales and Jaelan Phillips became the first University of Miami football players to earn first-team All-America honors since 2005.
- Jose Borregales became the first Hurricane to win the Lou Groza Award, presented annually to the nation’s top kicker.
- Women’s basketball head coach Katie Meier reached 303 career wins at Miami; one more win will make her the all-time winningest coach in program history (men’s or women’s).
Achievements and growth
- Two ’Canes were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft for the first time in six years: Jaelan Phillips went to the Miami Dolphins 18th overall and Gregory Rousseau was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 30th pick. Brevin Jordan (fifth round, Houston Texans) and Quincy Roche (sixth round, Pittsburgh Steelers) also were drafted.
- Three ’Canes were selected in the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft—Adrian Del Castillo (second round, Arizona Diamondbacks); Jake Smith (sixth round, Los Angeles Angels); and Anthony Vilar (15th round, San Diego Padres). It marked the 48th consecutive year Miami had an MLB draft pick.
- Former running back Edgerrin James and former head coach Jimmy Johnson were elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020.
- Former linebacker Dan Morgan was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021.
Hurricane Club
- The Hurricane Club raised close to $9 million in 2020-21. This includes more than $4 million in support of the student impact annual fund, $2.5 million in commitments to support endowed scholarships, and nearly $400,000 in direct support of women’s athletics—thanks in large part to the seventh annual Celebration of Women’s Athletics presented by Adidas.
- The Hurricane Club established the ’Canes United COVID Relief Fund, which saw many in our ’Canes family rally to provide much needed financial support.
- The Hurricane Club introduced the new Athletic Director’s Society, which will enhance the pool of resources to build state-of-the-art facilities, attract and retain the nation’s best student-athletes and coaches, and provide those who wear the U with an unparalleled collegiate experience.
