My Favorite Cigar
Blake James • Director of Athletics, Boston College • Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona
Blake James is a seasoned veteran of college sports. For the past two-and-a-half years he’s been the William V. Campbell director of athletics for Boston College, and before that he served as director of athletics for the University of Miami, where he spent 11 years. While athletic director, the “U” won five NCAA championships.
He’s a busy man, but he makes time for great cigars. “My favorite cigar is a Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona,” James says, adding that he smokes them “with good friends celebrating good times together.” He’s been smoking cigars for 15 years and says he also lights up on special occasions.
James recognizes just how important sports can be to college students, and how much an impact it can have on their careers. “The thing I love most is being able to change the lives of the young people who come here,” he said after being hired by BC in 2022. “The biggest challenge is the constantly changing world of college athletics—and figuring out how to continue to create the right experience for the young people in our program. We need to make sure we evolve in a way that’s consistent with our values and who we are as an institution, but that’s also in line with the demands of Division I athletics.”
