Miami AD Jankovich Introduced as Patriots’ New Chief Executive

FOXBORO, Mass. —  Sam Jankovich, who oversaw the success of the University of Miami athletic program, took on the task today of resurrecting the New England Patriots from their season of failure.

“This is Sam Jankovich’s era,” New England owner Victor Kiam said at a news conference. “It is a new era in the history of the Patriots.”

Jankovich, Miami’s athletic director since 1983, was named chief executive officer and owner’s representative of the NFL team. Pat Sullivan, whose contract runs through 1996, will remain as general manager.

Rod Rust’s job as coach may be in jeopardy. He is in the first year of a three-year contract, but the Patriots are 1-13 and have been beset by off-field problems.

“At this particular time,” said Jankovich, “I can’t look you in the eye and say yes, Rod will stay or, no, Rod will not stay.”

He said that, right after the season ends, he would sit down and discuss Rust’s future.

Miami has won three national football championships during Jankovich’s tenure, but he has no NFL experience. He was expected to have final say over who would coach the Patriots, and there are indications he’d like to start with a clean slate.

Jankovich indicated it was unlikely he would ask Miami Coach Dennis Erickson, who recently signed a five-year contract, to become the Patriots coach.

“The last thing that I would do to a university which has given me so much is to strip it of one of its most important ingredients,” he said.

He reportedly was given a five-year contract with a base salary of $1.8 million that includes clauses and bonuses that could make it worth $2.5 million, The Boston Globe reported today.

Sullivan is owed $2.7 million on his contract, which prohibits him from being fired or having his authority reduced unless he violates certain provisions.

“I’m very excited about the way everything has worked out,” Sullivan said. “Every member of this organization needs some revitalization.”

Sullivan was among several people, including Kiam, who were criticized in an NFL special counsel’s investigation of a reporter’s claim that she was sexually harassed by several players in the Patriots locker room on Sept. 17.

“We’re going to demand that people conduct themselves properly,” Jankovich said.