University Of Miami Sports Hall Of Fame

Paul Dee has served as Director of Athletics since June of 1993. Prior to his appointment, Dee had served the University as the Vice President and General Counsel beginning in 1981. During his tenure as Director of Athletics, Dee has focused the efforts of the Athletic Department on four major points of emphasis: 1) the success of its programs; 2) the development of its student-athletes, both athletically and academically; 3) the quality of life of its staff; 4) improvement of facilities. The department has achieved success in each of these areas.

Program Success
The University of Miami has won three team national championships (Baseball in 1999 and 2001; Football in 2001) during Dee's tenure as Director of Athletics.
Miami has been a dominant program in the BIG EAST Conference winning 25 team championships since 1993 including: seven BIG EAST Football titles, seven BIG EAST Men's Tennis titles, five BIG EAST Women's Tennis titles, four BIG EAST Women's Outdoor Track & Field titles, one BIG EAST Men's Swimming & Diving championship and one BIG EAST Men's Basketball title.
Under Dee's supervision, the University of Miami Athletic Department has added scholarship programs in women's soccer, women's volleyball and women's rowing.

Student-Athlete Success
University of Miami student-athletes have continued to strive academically since Dee took over as Director of Athletics in 1993. During that period, UM student-athletes have shown consistent improvement in grade-point average and graduation rates.
Perhaps the most successful scholar-athlete of the last decade at UM was football offensive tackle Joaquin Gonzalez, who earned the 2001 HealthSouth Draddy Award (the "Academic Heisman") in addition to earning first-team All-America honors on the field in 2000 and 2001.

Quality of Staff
Miami coaches have been widely recognized by their peers as some of the nation's best. The current UM coaching staff has earned a combined 18 National Coach of the Year honors, including nine by diving coach Randy Ableman, four by baseball coach Jim Morris, two by football coach Larry Coker in 2001, one by women's basketball coach Ferne Labati and one by men's basketball coach Perry Clark.

Improvement and Expansion of Facilities
Since 1993, the University of Miami athletic program has seen an almost complete makeover of its athletic facilities. During that period, Dee has overseen the following facility Projects:
* Construction of new football field at Greentree Field
* Construction of Cobb Stadium (track and soccer)
* Renovation of football locker and equipment rooms
* Renovation of the athletic training room
* Construction of the women's basketball offices
* Construction of the academic study hall facility
* Construction of the weight training facility
* Construction of the football meeting rooms
* Construction of locker rooms for track, soccer and volleyball
* Construction of Convocation Center for basketball

A Commitment To A Well-Rounded Program
Dee believes intensified fund raising efforts and developing stronger interest in women's sports are vital to ensuring the future success of the Hurricanes program.

National Influence
During his nine years as Director of Athletics, Dee has been active in the NCAA and the BIG EAST Conference. Dee has served on several NCAA Committees, including the Committee on Certification, the Management Council and currently is a member of the Committee on Infractions. In the BIG EAST, Dee has served on the Executive Television Committee and, for two years, was Chair of the BIG EAST Football Conference.
Before Miami Before joining the University, Dee was with the Miami law firm of Mershon, Sawyer, Johnston, Dunwoody & Cole and was a law clerk for Chief U.S. District Judge Charles Fulton in Miami. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida in 1970 and his master's of education and juris doctor degrees with honors from the University of Miami in 1973 and 1977, respectively.
Dee has a son, Terrance, who practices law with a firm in Miami.