CLEMSON MEN’S BASKETBALL SENIOR PJ HALL AND CLEMSON WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GRADUATE STUDENT AMARI ROBINSON ARE LEADING THEIR TEAMS AS PROGRAM VETERANS.
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Orange: The Experience is published six times annually exclusively for donors to the IPTAY Scholarship Fund. A minimum priority contribution is $60, but contributions of all amounts are welcome. To join IPTAY, call 864-656-2115 or log on to ClemsonTigers.com/IPTAY. To advertise in this publication, contact Mike Money by email at mmoney@clemson.edu
If you have recently changed an address or phone number, please call the IPTAY office at 864-656-2115 or visit ClemsonTigers.com and click on the IPTAY tab. You may also send your name, IPTAY number, new mailing address, email address or phone number to: IPTAY, P.O. Box 1529, Clemson, SC 29633.
6 CL EMSON ATHLETICS ANNOUNCES NIL ENHANCEMENTS & PROGRAM LEADER
Clemson Athletics and IPTAY remain committed to maintaining the best possible student-athlete experience.
8 11 0 SOCIETY LAUNCHES AS OFFICIAL “ONE-STOP NIL SHOP” FOR CLEMSON IPTAY set to provide deeper NIL integration.
18 THE HOMETOWN KID
PJ Hall stayed home for college, overcame adversity and is on pace for one of the most prolific careers in Clemson Basketball history.
24 A LEADER IN THE COURT AND CLASSROOM
Amari Robinson has translated her skills and experience on the court to make an even bigger impact in the classroom.
28 NEW SPORT, NEW COUNTRY AND ONE SU CCESSFUL SEASON
Freshman Gladys Chepngetich proves that success can come to those who are willing to adapt as she shines in her first-ever season running cross country at Clemson.
30 WATT FAMILY JOINS ATHLETIC CORNERSTONE PARTNERS
The new Athletic Performance and Wellness Center will be named in honor of the Watt Family’s generosity.
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MI LESTONE MOMENT: SWINNEY BECOMES CLEMSON FOOTBALL’S WINNINGEST COACH
With his 166th career victory, Dabo Swinney passed legend Frank Howard to become Clemson Football’s all-time winningest coach.
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Fellow Tigers,
AS WE TRANSITION FROM THE FALL TO WINTER SPORTS SEASON, there is much to celebrate and even more to look forward to for our programs. It’s hard to believe we are rounding the corner to celebrating 90 years of IPTAY, founded in 1934 under the premise of providing comprehensive support for Clemson student-athletes. The long-standing generosity of our growing membership base has enabled our organization to become a leader among the nation’s best. Each passing year brings a deeper sense of gratitude for your contributions to support Tigers of the past, present, and future.
The fall sports season has been an active one, and we were thrilled to have celebrated our men’s soccer program as ACC Tournament champions – marking the only men’s soccer program with three ACC Championships over the past decade. Both the men’s and women’s soccer programs finished the regular season ranked in the top-10 nationally, making Clemson one of just two schools to accomplish such a feat. Our Clemson Football program has battled through adversity and persisted with resilience during games like the upset of No. 12 Notre Dame at Death Valley on IPTAY Day. Clemson Volleyball tallied the program’s 900th all-time victory and clocked their highest RPI since 2008. Cross Country freshman, Gladys Chepngetich, notched several first-place finishes throughout the season, was named ACC Freshman of the Year, and advanced to the NCAA Championship after a top-five finish at Regionals.
The men’s basketball program got off to a great start as the team clinched the mid-November Asheville Championship with a gritty win over Davidson. The women’s basketball program also saw a successful start with Head Coach Amanda Butler securing her 300th win with the program. If you haven’t purchased your tickets to join us in Littlejohn Coliseum this winter, please contact our office at 1-800-CLEMSON to secure your seats. Gearing up toward the start of the inaugural season of Clemson Gymnastics in January, our Ticket Office is offering a unique “Littlejohn Experience” package, allowing you to build your own perfect season and combine ticket options for men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and gymnastics. Clemson Gymnastics will officially begin its season at home in Littlejohn on January 12, and we hope to see you there!
The in-venue support for each of our fall and winter sports has been phenomenal across the board, and we are grateful for the environment you continue to create here at Clemson. As we continue to enhance your experience at our facilities, we are looking forward to a couple of marquee moments for our programs in December; the completion of the Women’s Athletics Facility Expansion and the breaking of ground on the Watt Family Athletic Performance and Wellness Center. With your support, Clemson is staying ahead of the curve with cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art facility projects.
As we continue to move forward in navigating the dynamic landscape of intercollegiate athletics, we constantly remind ourselves of the premise we were founded upon: providing comprehensive support for Clemson student-athletes. In today’s day and age, in particular, with name, image, and likeness, we continue to search for the best permissible avenues to support the needs of Clemson student-athletes.
Last month, the formation of the 110 Society as the new NIL Collective created by members of the Clemson community was announced. Now more than ever, your support is critical to ensure we remain at the highest level in attracting the highest-caliber student-athletes. IPTAY will continue to seek funding and support toward the growing areas and initiatives defined within our mission and vision, and we will also partner with Clemson Athletics and 110 Society to intentionally fundraise to support the 110 Society’s efforts within the rules and guidance provided by the NCAA. As members of IPTAY, we need you to rise to the occasion by supporting 110 Society in addition to your generosity toward the existing priorities within our organization.
We remain immensely grateful for your investment in more than 550 Tiger student-athletes. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to creating the best possible studentathlete experience here at Clemson.
Go Tigers!
DAVIS BABB IPTAY CEO
CLEMSON ATHLETICS ANNOUNCES NIL ENHANCEMENTS & PROGRAM LEADER
CLEMSON ATHLETICS AND IPTAY REMAIN COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING THE BEST POSSIBLE STUDENT-ATHLETE EXPERIENCE.
CLEMSON DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS GRAHAM NEFF RE-EMPHASIZED the department’s commitment to Reign, its Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) programming, with a series of investments and launches, which includes the addition of Bridget Perine as Assistant AD of Talent and Brand Management. Clemson Athletics also announced its relationship with 110 Society, an NIL collective created by members of the Clemson community.
The next generation of “Reign” builds on the multifaceted program launched in 2022, which has been educationfocused, comprehensive, and aggressive. The updates to the program include new staffing, a new buildout of physical space, a class in partnership with the Erwin Center for Brand Communications and Graphic Communications, and plans for several additional features. The athletic department and IPTAY are also committed to supporting the fundraising efforts of 110 Society.
“We are excited about what this commitment means for our student-athletes in the NIL space as Clemson continues to support our student-athletes with people, places and programs through Reign,” said Director of Athletics Graham Neff. “NIL has been extremely successful at Clemson, where brands and companies have agreed to more than 880 deals, including 180 worth $10,000 or more. That’s a real impact.
“We are excited for what Bridget brings, and extremely bullish on what she can do in educating and empowering our student-athletes. The partnership with the The Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business is yet another commitment from our campus to educate our students on how to build and maintain a brand. Clemson remains committed to doing things with integrity, and providing our student-athletes the best possible opportunity to succeed.”
Perine spent nearly two years at the University of Memphis, where she led the Memphis NIL program, participated in multiple working groups and developed student programming. She also helped develop one of the top student-athlete marketplaces in the nation, coordinating between studentathletes, compliance and local businesses on NIL operations.
At Clemson, she oversees all NIL educational programming in conjunction with compliance, meets with student-athletes one-on-one for branding opportunities, and works in the community to engage potential partners.
Reign is committed to a two-prong process: establishing world-class infrastructure and supporting our studentathletes. Reign provides our incredible student-athletes with ample information and training they can utilize while remaining steadfast to the commitment of “keeping Clemson Clemson.”
EDUCATE
NEW NIL COURSE OFFERED TO ALL STUDENTS: Starting in the Fall 2023 semester, the Erwin Center for Brand Communications partnered with Clemson Athletics to offer a class focusing on the NIL landscape. The class is collaboratively taught, with athletic department experts teaming with Katie Hildebrand, a leading brand marketing and communication expert from the Erwin Center. In addition to expert NIL guest lecturers, the class focuses on the ins and outs of NIL, while also providing students with the necessary content branding creation and management skills to be successful NIL scholars and practitioners.
EMPOWER
110 SOCIETY: To support Clemson student-athletes with opportunities to market their NIL, Clemson community leaders announced the founding of 110 Society, the new one-stop shop for all things Clemson NIL, officially endorsed and supported by Clemson Athletics and IPTAY. 110 Society will create opportunities for fans, donors and businesses to participate in and benefit from NIL deals with studentathletes. Visit 110Society.com for details.
CAB REEVES & CAB NIERI: Clemson was first to build and open the Clemson Athletic Branding Institute and is now set to develop an additional space within the Nieri Family Student-Athlete Enrichment Center. The 2,700 square-foot facility will mirror the amenities of the initial CAB, including photo and video studios, podcast rooms, and meeting and office space. The new location is within the Nieri Family Student Athlete Enrichment Center, making these amenities easily accessible to both Clemson student-athletes and the general student body. Clemson remains committed to providing excellence in branding, marketing, sponsorship, content creation and more for its students.
INFLCR (THE CLEMSON EXCHANGE): Clemson partnered with INFLCR in 2022 to develop the Clemson Exchange, a student-athlete NIL registry which has been custom-designed for businesses, donors, and alumni who wish to connect directly with student-athletes. Registered users can search, filter and initiate conversations with student-athletes to explore NIL deals, ranging from appearances to social media posts. Businesses are at the forefront and can easily pair with student-athletes to further their promotional goals.
NEW BIOS FOR CLEMSON ATHLETES: Clemson Athletics and digital partner WMT have developed bio pages that make it easy for people to learn more student-athletes’ interests.
Clemson Athletics’ Sr. Executive Associate Athletic Director and Chief Marketing Officer has reshaped the structure of the external unit into a content-production agency, with a focus on making personalities the stars. Irby’s extensive background in business and branding, combined with Clemson’s best-inclass production units, allows Tigers the best of all worlds as they evaluate and fulfill deals.
BRIDGET PERINE
The Clemson Family was elated to welcome Bridget Perine to Tigertown as Assistant Athletic Director of Talent and Brand Management. Perine arrived at Clemson after serving as the director of NIL at Memphis Athletics where she focused on student-athlete branding and image management. Her skills and expertise will serve and support all of our student-athletes and staff as we look to further excel in the NIL arena.
KOSHA IRBY ASHLEY HARTERT
Joining the Clemson Family in March, Hartert serves as the Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance Services, providing compliance oversight within the Clemson NIL ecosystem. After her most recent stint at K-State, Hartert oversees agent registration and relations for the athletic department. Her experience and knowledge of NCAA rules and the changing NIL landscape help to support student-athletes seeking to get more involved in the NIL space.
110 SOCIETY LAUNCHES AS OFFICIAL “ONE-STOP NIL SHOP” FOR CLEMSON
To support Clemson student-athletes with opportunities to market their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), Clemson community leaders have announced the founding of 110 Society, the new one-stop shop for all things Clemson NIL and official partner of Clemson Athletics. 110 Society will create opportunities for fans, donors and businesses to participate in and benefit from NIL deals with student-athletes.
C.D. Davies will lead 110 Society as its General Manager after spending the past two years working as the NIL coordinator for Clemson Football. Previously, Davies was a longtime executive in the banking industry, serving as CEO for CitiMortgage, LendingTree and Wachovia Mortgage.
Since the NCAA changed its rules in July 2021, NIL has rapidly become a critical factor in the student-athlete experience and played an increasingly influential role in the competitive landscape of college athletics. In addition to being transformational in the lives of athletes, NIL represents the best opportunity in history for fans to purchase items from their favorite teams and players – just as a fan base packing stadiums creates a “home field advantage” that helps their teams win, the same applies for creating NIL opportunities for student-athletes. Businesses can elevate marketing efforts with endorsement deals and appearances. Donors can positively impact the community. And fans can experience VIP meet-and-greets, collect treasured memorabilia and impact their teams more than ever.
The name 110 Society is a reference to the famous adage from legendary coach Frank Howard, “If you’re not going to
give 110%, keep your filthy hands off my rock.” The moniker signifies the renowned Clemson spirit of going above and beyond to make Clemson the best it can be. Also in that spirit, 110 Society had the beneficial opportunity to draw from the experiences and best practices developed by both Tiger Impact and Dear Old Clemson, the two NIL collectives who stepped up to support Clemson student-athletes over the past two years as NIL first started.
In a message of support from IPTAY CEO Davis Babb, he highlighted the importance of actively assisting in fundraising efforts for 110 Society in this new era of intercollegiate athletics.
“As an organization, the IPTAY mission and vision remain the same, and we intend to continue evolving alongside the national landscape to remain among the nation’s best in supporting the student-athlete experience,” stated Babb. “As members of IPTAY, we need you to rise to the occasion in our call to action to do so by supporting the 110 Society in addition to your generosity toward the existing priorities within our organization.”
The creation of 110 Society and its continued partnership with Clemson Athletics and IPTAY will streamline the fundraising process and will enhance the experience for fans, brands, and businesses looking to connect with Clemson student-athletes.
IPTAY SET TO PROVIDE DEEPER NIL INTEGRATION.
“110 Society is the next evolution of Clemson NIL that will be a differencemaker for our student-athletes. Creating this ‘one-stop NIL shop’ that’s aligned with IPTAY, our corporate partnerships team and our community makes it clear and simple to engage in NIL with our student-athletes who are in high demand. We believe this is a critical piece to helping our programs continue to win championships in this new era of college athletics.”
– GRAHAM NEFF, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
PAW SITIVE PRESS
HIGHLIGHTING CLEMSON’S TOP PERFORMERS IN ATHLETICS
JEREMIAH TROTTER JR.
Football | Junior
Earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for games played during the weekend of Nov. 4. He finished with a gamehigh 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and a pick-six in a 31-23 win over No. 12 Notre Dame.
HALLE MACKIEWICZ
Women's Soccer | Senior
After setting the new all-time Clemson record for single-season shutouts with 13, she became the first Tiger to earn ACC Goalkeeper of the Year. She tallied up 44 saves during the season and started all 19 matches for the Tigers.
CHLOE HOLDER
Women’s Golf | Junior
Shot a school record tying 63 to help lead the women’s golf team to a team championship of the Landfall Tradition at the Country Club of Landfall. Her 63 featured a Clemson record tying nine birdies and nine pars and finished seventh individually.
GLADYS CHEPNGETICH
Cross Country | Freshman
Named ACC Women’s Freshman of the year and tabbed 2023 All-ACC for her performances in cross country and at the championship this season. She finished seventh overall in the 6K at the ACC Championship.
PJ HALL
Men's Basketball | Senior
Earned Tournament MVP after helping lead the men’s basketball team to the 2023 Asheville Championship tournament title. He averaged 22.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.5 blocks and 1.5 steals in wins over UAB and Davidson, including 27 points against the Blazers.
OUSMANE SYLLA
Men's Soccer | Senior
Named 2023 ACC Tournament MVP and First Team All-Conference. He netted Clemson’s only goal in the championship match, before the Tigers were a perfect 5-for-5 on penalty kicks to claim the crown. He scored the tying goal in the 83rd minute to send the game into overtime.
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1 J une 1, 2024
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JULIE COIN ENTERS RING OF HONOR
BY TIM BOURRET
JULIE COIN, A THREE-TIME ALL-AMERICAN ON CLEMSON’S FINAL
Four women’s tennis teams of 2004 and 2005, was inducted into the Clemson Ring of Honor at halftime of the Clemson vs. Notre Dame football game on November 4, 2023. Coin became the second women’s tennis player to be presented with the highest honor bestowed by the Clemson Athletic Department.
Coin is just the fifth woman and 13th Clemson athlete to be inducted into the Ring of Honor. She is the second women’s tennis player, joining Susan Hill, who was honored in 2011. The other females in the Ring of Honor are Barbara Kennedy (women’s basketball), Tina Krebs (women’s track), and Dee Arrington (women’s soccer.)
The Clemson Women’s Tennis teams of 2004 and 2005 are still the only women’s athletics teams in school history to reach the Final Four of an NCAA Tournament in any sport. Coin was the most accomplished player on those two teams.
As a sophomore in 2003-04, Coin won the Frank Howard Award, the department-wide award for bringing honor to Clemson. The following year she won IPTAY Athlete of the Year, another department-wide award that takes into account athletic and academic excellence.
“Julie Coin lives up to her name, she is a jewel,” said Nancy Harris, her coach at Clemson. “She has been a great ambassador for Clemson, her country [France] and her family.”
“Julie and her teammates were part of the legacy teams at Clemson (2004 and 2005 Final Four) and I am happy so many of her teammates came back to Clemson for the celebration.”
It was a whirlwind weekend for Coin and her family, as they made the trip from the South of France, where she is a coach at the “All-In Tennis Academy.”
Coin met with the Clemson team, met with current administrators, including Clemson Athletic Director Graham Neff, spent time with some of her former teammates at multiple meals, and was honored on the field in Death Valley during halftime in front of over 80,000 people.
“It was so wonderful to come back to Clemson and spend time with my teammates and see how the campus and the athletic facilities have grown since I played here,” said Coin. “I did not realize what this honor meant when I received the news. I am so blessed to be here and to receive this honor.”
Coin was able to spend time with the current Clemson team and give them some advice as they go through a stage in life that she experienced nearly 20 years ago. “I told them to start from scratch each year and work hard to gain confidence slowly. That was important in the process for me. You have to always want more.”
“I have continued to use the lessons I learned at Clemson today when I teach. I carry the moments from my Clemson years with me every day. I learned so much about dreaming big and not setting limits on what you can accomplish. And, I learned so much at Clemson about work ethic.”
Coin finished her Clemson career with a 101-20 singles record. Her .835 winning percentage is still second to Hill’s among players who were on the Clemson team for more than one year. Coin is the only Clemson Women’s Tennis player to reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Individual Singles Tournament twice. The 2004 MVP of the ACC and three-time All-ACC player finished 90-27 in doubles play for her three years.
Academically, Coin graduated with a degree in mathematics in just three years and was a three-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll, including 2003-04 when she was on the Dean’s List.
“What made Julie a great player was that she was tall and fast,” said Harris of her greatest protege. “She was like a gazelle on the tennis court,” continued Harris. “But, she was very powerful. Her serve was clocked at 120 miles per hour.”
“She was also very coachable and very focused. When we had meetings in the locker room, she would take notes and listen.”
Coin turned professional in 2005 and retired in 2016. Her most famous accomplishment as a professional took place at the 2008 US Open when, as the No. 188 ranked player in the world, she defeated No. 1 ranked Ana Ivanovic. It marked the first time a man or a woman had come through qualifying to defeat the number-one seed in the first or second round of the United States Open.
“I will always remember going to the media area with her after she won,” said Harris. “There were two media sessions going on simultaneously, and Rafael Nadal was in the other room. Just about everyone was with Julie.”
It was so good that everyone could be with Julie to celebrate her Ring of Honor induction that first weekend in November.
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BEYOND THE GAME
BY CARSON RILEY
PHOTO BY SAM FROST
WHAT IS ONE SOCIAL EVENT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND IN THE WORLD?
KM: I would go to the Country Music Awards! I love country music and would be so happy if I had the chance to attend that.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM? DESCRIBE YOUR HOMETOWN TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER BEEN.
KM: I am from Parkland, Florida, and I would say that it’s a very quiet community. About ten minutes away is the beach. I grew up going to the beach all the time, and it’s very pretty.
WHAT IS ONE MOVIE THAT ALWAYS MAKES YOU FEEL SOMETHING WHEN YOU WATCH IT?
KM: I’ve only ever watched like three movies in my life, but the Bee movie has always been my favorite. It always makes me cry.
WHEN DID YOU START GAINING AN INTEREST IN GYMNASTICS?
KM: I started gymnastics when I was four, but I don’t think I enjoyed it until I was eight. At that point, I started getting into gymnastics and knew I was good enough to do something with it.
HAVE YOU ALWAYS HAD A FAVORITE EVENT?
KM: No, the events constantly changed for me as a kid. I used to love floor, but I can say that I have never liked vault. The other three, beam, bars, and floor, would rotate, being my favorite. Recently, my favorite two are beam and bars.
WHAT WOULD SOMEONE NOT KNOW ABOUT BEING A GYMNAST?
KM: Honestly, when people look at gymnastics, they think it is physically challenging to go and flip to swing around a bar, but it’s not. It is 90% mental and 10% physical. Once you learn how to do the skill, that portion is out of the way, but the battle is the mental steps you have to take to do skills perfectly every time.
WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO BE AT A PLACE LIKE CLEMSON?
KM: Clemson is the craziest school I have been to. They have so many resources, an excess in student-athlete development, and they always want to prepare us for our future. I have seen how the school helps with internships and helps get you jobs, which sets you up for a successful future, making Clemson unique.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE A PART OF CLEMSON'S FIRST-EVER GYMNASTICS TEAM?
KM: Being a part of Clemson’s first-ever gymnastics team is an opportunity I didn’t dream of ever being a part of. For me, it is very cool and exciting because not many people get to do it, so taking the risk of coming here to train for a year and redshirting was a little scary. Now that I took the chance, it has been incredible to see the culture we built in the first year and how it can finally play out in our first competition season.
WHAT IS SOMETHING THE TEAM HAS SET TO ACCOMPLISH THIS SEASON?
KM: The biggest thing we want to accomplish is to shock the world. We want to come out with a band, and we want to show people what we are made of and prove that we are a force to be reckoned with. We want to show the world we are strong and have incredible talent.
THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY
The men’s soccer team won its second national championship by defeating San Diego State, 2-0, in the title match. The game was played on Dec. 6, 1987 at Historic Riggs Field in Clemson.
THE HOMETOWN KID
A LOCAL YOUTH BASKETBALL STAR STAYED HOME FOR COLLEGE, OVERCAME ADVERSITY AND IS ON PACE FOR ONE OF THE MOST PROLIFIC CAREERS IN CLEMSON BASKETBALL HISTORY.
BY BEN WINTERROWD
Exactly 60 miles or one hour and 15 minutes, barring traffic on the ever populated I-85 highway, is the distance and time between PJ Hall’s childhood home and Littlejohn Coliseum. When PJ was growing up in Spartanburg, he fell in love with basketball and baseball, with basketball becoming a priority as he continued to develop into a prominently ranked recruit, not just in the Palmetto State, but across the USA. Little did he know that a place so close to home would cultivate a bond of family and love for years to come. There’s just something in these hills.
GROWING UP IN THE HALL HOUSEHOLD WAS COMPETITIVE ON MANY levels. PJ’s father, Jerome, played basketball at nearby Wofford College and his mother, Melanie, was a dual sport athlete at College of Charleston playing basketball and volleyball. PJ’s older brother Chris played basketball at Anderson University, while his sister, Thayer, was a standout volleyball player at the University of Florida. To say the family is athletic is a massive understatement.
“Everything was a competition,” PJ said, smiling and laughing. “We used to race to try and get the best seat in the car when we left the house.”
Even the coveted end seat at the kitchen table was reason to compete. Chris, being the oldest, always got the end seat. Even now, PJ gets stuck in the middle seat, and at 6-10.5 and 238 pounds, he’s the largest human being in the family.
PJ continued along these lines, reminiscing, “The oldest always got the middle cinnamon roll, which was a huge deal obviously. When Chris went off to college it became Thayer. It took forever for me to get that! I was a junior in high school!”
Competing for seats or cinnamon rolls, family means the world to PJ, and he treats those he meets and develops relationships with like family. This held true when PJ was deciding where he wanted to attend college and continue his basketball career. Selecting Clemson was the obvious choice for the kid from Spartanburg.
“Going through the recruiting process was obviously a lot,” said Hall. “Luckily, I had an older sister who was a highly touted recruit in volleyball, so I was able to see that firsthand. I was really looking for that family environment, somewhere where I could go and fit in immediately. I’ve always been a social person and so getting along with the guys on visits was big to me. I remember coming here on one of my first officials, and it immediately felt like a smooth fit, and I meshed with the guys easily. As I came back more and more, I felt like I was already a part of the team.”
“Only being an hour away was special too, being that hometown kid, but I knew more and more that it was the obvious choice that I wanted to come here.”
As a freshman on the 2020-21 NCAA Tournament team, PJ had a limited role but was crucial to the team’s success and learned a lot from All-ACC player Aamir Simms in the process.
“Aamir [Simms] was a huge role model for me during my freshman year,” recalled Hall. “He taught me how to go out there and work every day. Just keeping a steady head. There
were some highs and some lows in that season. He really mentored me in the process of working every day.”
PJ was a top 40 recruit in the country and one of the best and highest ranked recruits in Clemson program history. With that came high expectations.
“That freshman year was tough. I came in as a big recruit and I wanted to contribute right away. As I had little playing time, I had to find ways to get in there and contribute. I overcame getting COVID that season and games where I barely played. It was special to continue to fight and go along with those guys.”
“Whenever you have to fight for your position and your time to get on the floor, you’re growing in that aspect. That’s what can really train you as a player and get you to be mentally tough.”
Little did PJ know that developing mental toughness would be a precursor for the next year and a half. PJ hurt his foot during his sophomore season. He played through a painful stress fracture in his foot for much of the year before requiring offseason surgery. As a man of faith, PJ turned to the Bible and his family.
“The biggest thing for my mental toughness is having God as someone to lean on. Jesus Christ Lord and Savior. I wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything without Him. Whenever I’m down and at my lowest points, I’ve always found myself turning back to the Bible. Sometimes you get astray from that and you say, ‘Maybe it’s time to knock the dust off’ and that’s when you know you might have been in the wrong if there is dust on the Bible on the bedside table.”
Even with a solid foundation, he was not prepared for what happened after recovering from his surgery.
“The foot was hard to deal with my sophomore year, but I told myself that I was going to come out on top of it. I wasn’t really all that down on my foot because I had been dealing with it for so long. The knee was so sudden, and that was like my world fell apart.”
Fifteen minutes into his first full practice during the summer, PJ dislocated his kneecap and tore his PFL tendon.
He described that moment in one word. Devastating.
“I’ve always told myself that when you’re down and getting close to that 10-count, get up. Find a way to get up. Get up and find some stability. When you are sad or struggling, get up and develop a pattern of stability in your life. That was my biggest thing, continuing to find that strength and get out of that hole.”
He attributes getting out of that hole to those closest to him: teammates, coaches, and family.
“Hunter Tyson was huge for me. Having him as my roommate and as one of my closest friends on the team, it was special to have him around all the time. He was someone I could go and talk to. I had a loss in my family at that time, and everything felt like it was getting piled on at once.”
Being from right down the road also provided PJ something not everyone has – a mom within driving distance.
“I’m a big momma’s boy. So going home multiple times and having my mom there and to not necessarily talk about stuff, but just hear her voice and know things are going to be all right. I’ve got a girlfriend that I love to death, and she was big for me, too.”
PJ recalled a time during the early stages of his junior season where Head Coach Brad Brownell helped him tremendously.
“I had a lot of support around me, including Coach Brownell. There was plenty of times that he brought me in just to make sure I was okay.”
PJ reminisced about a conversation he had with Coach Brownell following Clemson’s loss to Iowa in November 2022.
“I was completely out of it mentally. He brought me into the meeting room after the loss. I played eight minutes and had 0 points,” He said, ‘You’ve got to find a way to get yourself out of this and find a way to become yourself again.’”
“As I left the room, I realized he was right. If I’m going to feel bad for myself then I’m never going to get out of this. After that, it was get up and fight.”
PJ finished his junior season in strong fashion, turning in a career year. A determined PJ Hall showed his own personal version of grit and growth as he helped lead the Tigers to a record year in the ACC. Clemson won a school best 14 league games and finished with 23 wins. He was named to the AllACC Team as a Third Team member and finished top three in scoring during ACC play.
Even after earning an offseason invite to the coveted NBA Combine in Chicago and drumming up lots of draft interest, there was just something that didn’t sit right with him. He didn’t like the way the season ended.
PJ announced he was returning to Clemson for his senior season on May 25. He reflected on his decision to return.
“I really love it here. I didn’t want to leave. It would have had to have been, you know, ‘We’re taking you in the first round’ or something of that nature and even that might not have gotten me out of here. I wasn’t ready to become an adult and move out.”
“I love college and I love Clemson.”
This bond between PJ and the basketball program and the community of Clemson has been forged through highs and lows, growth and development, and constant support.
As much as PJ loves Clemson, the team, students, school, and community return the affection tenfold.
FROM THE BROADCAST BOOTH
BY DON MUNSON
MY FIRST SEASON CALLING CLEMSON MEN’S BASKETBALL WAS THE 2017-18 season. That was the season Brad Brownell led his squad to a 25-10 overall record and made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The month of December that season featured some great games. One took place in Sunrise, Florida on December 16, 2017. Our Tigers met up with the Florida Gators in the Orange Bowl Classic. The Gators came into the contest ranked number 22 in the country and even though Clemson was 8-1 entering the game they were unranked.
Things didn’t look good for Clemson at halftime as they were down seven points 40-33. The second half didn’t start any better as Coach Brownell’s team trailed by 12 with 17:24 to play and by nine 66-57 with 5:40 to go, but that is when things started turning the Tigers way. As most comebacks do, things got started from the free-throw line. Marcquise Reed made a pair with 4:49 left to cut the lead to seven. Donte Grantham added another at the 4:01 mark and Florida’s lead was now six. A jumper by Reed with 3:25 showing on the clock made the score 66-62 Gators. That jumper by the way put Reed over the 1000-point mark for his career. Two more free throws by Reed at 2:21 made it a two-point game. Then a Gabe DeVoe three-point basket gave Clemson a 67-66 lead with just 1:44 showing. A basket with 87 seconds left gave Florida a one-point lead. Then 50 seconds later a dunk by Thomas put Clemson up one. Thomas grabbed a rebound of a missed three-pointer with nine seconds left and Reed salted
it away with two free throws with just four ticks of the clock left.
The 15-3 run over the last 5:40 of the game gave Clemson a 71-69 victory. Marcquise Reed led Clemson with 22 points. 13 of his points came in the second half. Gabe DeVoe added 19 points. Donte Grantham finished with 11 points and Shelton Mitchell added 10 points. Elijah Thomas had only two buckets in the game, but he controlled the boards finishing with 10 rebounds.
The win marked the 300th of head coach Brad Brownell’s career. The win also signified Clemson’s eighth all-time win over a ranked opponent in non-conference play at that time in Clemson Basketball history. Of those eight wins, three had come under the direction of Coach Brownell. The victory was also the fifth in a row for Clemson at the time. A win streak that would end up stretching to ten thanks to wins over South Carolina (64-48 at home on December 19 as Reed led the way with 25 points), Louisianna Lafayette (89-60 at home on December 22), North Carolina State (78-62 at home on December 30. The largest win over the Wolf Pack since the 2013-14 season), Boston College (74-70 in Chestnut Hill, MA on January 3 as Clemson went 6-6 over the last 62 seconds of the game), and Louisville (74-69 in overtime at home on January 6). This year’s squad reminds me a ton of that 2017-18 squad. Let’s hope they can duplicate the results. All God’s children say “Go Tigers!”.
A LEADER IN THE COURT AND CLASSROOM
AMARI ROBINSON HAS TRANSLATED HER SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE ON THE COURT TO MAKE AN EVEN BIGGER IMPACT IN THE CLASSROOM.
BY KRISSY KOWALSKI AND HANNAH
GERTZ
ON THE SURFACE, IT MIGHT BE RATHER CHALLENGING TO SPOT THE similarities between a teacher and a basketball player.
A teacher instructs students and guides them to be the best versions of themselves, while a basketball player focuses on a fast-paced game centered around scoring baskets while stopping their opponent from doing the same.
Thanks to fifth-year women’s basketball forward Amari Robinson, we don’t have to look much further. The fouryear starter has become a staple for the Clemson Tigers both on and off the court since arriving in 2019, and this year, she has taken on the challenge of making another name for herself: “Miss Robinson”.
The Douglasville, Ga. native is not your traditional studentathlete; she has practice, class, weights and film study, all while working a full-time job as “Miss Robinson” in an 8th grade special education resource class at Riverside Middle School in Pendleton, S.C.
In her senior season, Robinson, a four-time All-Academic ACC selection, was named second team All-ACC and shattered school records, climbing up the record books. In addition to her athletic milestones, her love of the Clemson Family made her want to stay a Tiger and finish her collegiate career in orange and purple.
“I am enjoying my time and the people I met,” Robinson said. “We didn't have the years that I wanted or that any of us wanted my freshman and sophomore year, but being able to stay here and see the girls from the team means everything. Clemson has a fifth-year grad program where I can student teach for a whole year rather than just a semester, so I get more experience in the field that I want to work in. I can also work towards a master's while also playing my fifth year, so it's kind of like a win-win all around.”
The special education master’s student often finds herself running from one commitment to the next, even a practice at 6:00 a.m. designed so that she can work on her talents both in the gym and the classroom. It's rare to find a person who can juggle all these responsibilities, and it's even rarer to find someone who is able to find success in all of them.
“Our day begins with practice at 6:00 a.m., and Amari is showering and going to classes as Miss Robinson from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. She’s working a job. She’s not interning. She’s a teacher in a classroom every single day,” said Head Coach Amanda Butler. “After that, she studies a little bit and gets her lesson plans together. On some evenings, she has graduate school seminars because she will graduate with her master’s at the end of this year…she’s got to get a lift in. She’s got to get some individual work and individual film in with Joy (Smith), her position coach. All of it - roll it all up into a person, and it's Amari.”
Off the court, Robinson is extremely passionate about helping young children, especially those who might have a harder time learning in a traditional classroom. Her desire to serve in this capacity is nothing new, as her inspiration can be tied back to 20 years of mentoring and caring for her sister.
“…She has Down syndrome. So being around her, helping with Special Olympics and her classroom parties or other events. It definitely helped me develop my passion, and helping her with homework and just seeing how much she struggles with things that we often take for granted that we don't even think about, like telling time or like counting money,” Robinson said. “I want to be able to be somebody that could give back to not only my sister and help her through her struggles and difficulties throughout life, but also someone else's children who might be going through the same thing, if not, less or even more.”
That passion inspired a name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunity for Amari last February through TigerImpact, the former charity-driven NIL collective that paired Clemson student-athletes with NIL opportunities funded by organizations they care about. In exchange, student-athletes are able to serve as role models in the community, advocating for the causes they are most passionate about furthering.
For Robinson, she jumped at the opportunity to advocate for ClemsonLIFE, a post-secondary education program that equips young men and women with intellectual disabilities for independent living and career success through a blended combination of academic coursework and career exploration. In her role with ClemsonLIFE, she engages in their Volunteers 4 LIFE program, where she helps with events ranging from workout classes to one-on-one instructions with students.
“In this role, I get to use my platform to share all about the ClemsonLIFE program to bring them more exposure and increase awareness of post-secondary education opportunities. Being able to spread that awareness so that other families and athletes can get involved is really incredible,” Amari noted.
Even with her busy daily schedule, Amari is often able to find connections between her role as a teacher and as a leader on the basketball team. According to Robinson, she is able to take a teacher-like role by serving as a mentor and instructor to newer players who might need help to understand new concepts that might be difficult to initially understand.
“Being in the classroom, I have been able to get to know different students and establish different relationships. I have been fortunate to use these relationships to teach them in a way that their classmates and I understand, and this has definitely translated on the court,” Robinson added.
“There are always new teammates, and especially this year, we have them from all over. There's not really one person that is going to learn the same way or ones you can talk to
the same way as you can talk to somebody that's already been there. I think it's just developing patience. We have a whole new team, so being patient with the new teammates not always understanding things and reaching out to create community. I certainly enjoy being that person that they can come to.”
Through her new experiences this year in student teaching, Robinson has been forced out of her comfort zone and learned both a sense of time management and patience. Throughout all of this, Robinson says the most impactful takeaway is her greater sense of appreciation and gratitude for everything she is able to do. After she is finishes playing at Clemson and with her master’s degree, Amari aspires to play professionally; in particular, playing abroad is something she hopes to accomplish. After living and playing abroad for a few years, Robinson is certain she will return to her passion for teaching full-time.
To start the 2023-24 campaign, the Tigers opened the season with a 71-41 win over the Winthrop Eagles on Education Day. During this special day, Amari and her teammates were able to play for a full arena of school-aged children in Littlejohn Coliseum. While her students were not in attendance, they were extra supportive of “Miss Robinson” from their own classrooms.
“My students, they make it worthwhile,” Robinson said. “I come in, and they're immediately asking me about the games. Today, there were three of them asking ‘What time do you play on Friday? What time do you play on Sunday? I'm going to come. I'm going to tell my parents. It is little things like that, and the little interactions or relationships I make with them that make it all worth it in the end.”
It's safe to say that Clemson Women’s Basketball has gained some new Tiger fans at Riverside Middle School, all thanks to “Miss Robinson".
NEW SPORT, NEW COUNTRY AND ONE SUCCESSFUL SEASON
FRESHMAN GLADYS CHEPNGETICH PROVES THAT SUCCESS CAN COME TO THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO ADAPT AS SHE SHINES IN HER FIRST-EVER SEASON RUNNING CROSS COUNTRY. BY AUTUMN FROITLAND
WHILE LEARNING HOW TO NAVIGATE A BRAND NEW SPORT AND familiarizing herself with a brand new place, Gladys Chepngetich has impressed all as the cross country star has reached new heights and has made a name for herself in her first season at Clemson.
Growing up in Kenya, Africa, Chepngetich was all too familiar with track and field as she grew up competing in the 800 and 1500 meter dash. However, the newcomer had no experience running any cross country events and never pictured herself competing in cross country meets.
When arriving at Clemson, Chepngetich was offered the opportunity to join the cross country team to help build up the endurance she would eventually need come the track season. Little did Chepngetich know her first fall season would bring forth personal bests, honors and awards, and a chance to become a national champion.
“I have never run cross country before,” Chepngetich said. “This was my first time, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to do well.”
The Clemson Tigers opened up the 2023 Cross Country season in Spartanburg, S.C., at the Upstate Eye Opener. In her first meet of the season and her first time running cross country, Chepngetich earned a second-place finish in the women’s 5k.
“I was so excited, I didn’t even believe it was me,” Chepngetich said. “I was thinking, ‘is this a dream?’ I never thought I would be running cross country, but there I was.”
Following her second-place finish in the Upstate Eye Opener, Chepngetich recorded her first-ever first-place finish at the Furman Invitational. Chepngetich completed the women’s 6k in 20 minutes and 47 seconds, as she was the first athlete and Tiger to cross the finish line. After the Furman Invitational, Chepngetich ran in the Women’s 5k at the Live in Lou Classic in Louisville, Ky., and secured her second, first-place finish of the season. Chepngetich finished the race in 16 minutes and 14 seconds as she crossed the finish line 15 seconds before the second-place finisher completed the race.
In the fourth meet of the season, the Tigers headed to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to compete in the Crimson Classic. Many well-known and competitive institutions were set to compete, but Chepngetich kept her mind clear and motivated herself toward success.
“When we went to Alabama, I knew it would be tough, and I thought, ‘how can I do this with these people?’ but I just say, ‘let me just breathe, be confident and say, I can do this.’. I ran, and I came in third.”
Securing a third-place finish at the Crimson Classic, Chepngetich recorded a new personal best as she completed
the women’s 6k in 19 minutes and 18 seconds, which was one minute and 29 seconds faster than her 6k time at the Furman Invitational.
With a third, second, and two first-place finishes on the season, Chepngetich was ready to take on the ACC Cross Country Championship in Tallahassee. The ACC is one of the most challenging and competitive conferences in cross country, as the institutions are nationally regarded for their successful programs.
Chepngetich knew how difficult the meet would be but was determined to try her best and finish the race. In the women’s 6k, Chepngetich recorded a seventh-place overall finish and was the first true freshman and Tiger to cross the finish line.
“When I finished seventh, I thought ‘oh no, I finished seventh,’ but I was happy because I finished, and finishing is not something that is easy,” Chepngetich said.
After finishing the race, Chepngetich was rewarded for her success as she was named to the ACC All-Tournament Team and was officially tabbed the 2023 ACC Women’s Cross Country Freshman of the Year as she became the first athlete at Clemson to earn the award.
“When I finished the race, I was just walking and going towards where my teammates and coaches were and someone came over to greet me and they said, ‘Gladys, you are the ACC Freshman of the Year’ and I just cried,” Chepngetich said. “I just cried, and I didn’t talk to anybody because I was too excited, and I couldn’t believe it; I was so happy.”
Chepngetich has impressed all season as she has garnered multiple conference weekly honors and has helped the women’s cross country program succeed in the 2023 campaign. In all five events this season, the newcomer finished within the top 10, and in four out of the five meets, she placed within the top three. The Freshman of the Year will look ahead to the NCAA Championships as Chepngetich could have the opportunity to become a national champion in her first season as a Tiger. Following the cross country season, Chepngetich will be able to use her new-found endurance in the 2024 Track and Field campaign.
Far away from home, Chepngetich was worried that she would not be able to find her place at Clemson. Thankfully, under the guidance of Track and Field Director Mark Elliot and Head Cross Country Coach Vicky Pounds, Chepngetich has connected with the people around her and found a support system within the cross country team.
“The cross country team is the best team ever; I have never met women like this. They are like my sisters,” Chepngetich said. “For example, I live far from school so sometimes I need a ride because I might be late for class or training and they always come and get me. They are just the best.”
WATT FAMILY JOINS IPTAY AND CLEMSON ATHLETICS AS ATHLETIC CORNERSTONE PARTNER
THE NEW ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE AND WELLNESS CENTER WILL BE NAMED IN HONOR OF THE WATT FAMILY’S GENEROSITY.
BY BROOKE ROBBINS
IPTAY AND CLEMSON ATHLETICS HAVE ANNOUNCED THE FAMILIES of Steven and Michael Watt as Athletic Cornerstone Partners, recognizing their incredible generosity and impact on the most recently approved facility project; the Athletic Performance and Wellness Center. The Watt Family’s $5.675 million Athletic Cornerstone Partner contribution will play a central role in bringing the cutting-edge, 55,000-square-foot facility from concept to reality.
This visionary project is set to revolutionize the training and wellness experience for student-athletes and is poised to set a new standard in collegiate sports facilities. With plans in place for construction to begin in December 2023 and be completed in February 2025, the facility will be formally known as the Watt Family Athletic Performance and Wellness Center.
Members of the Watt Family have been long-standing supporters of a wide variety of Clemson University initiatives, both through service and philanthropy. Among many areas, the joint contributions of the Watt Family were pivotal in the creation and subsequent technology upgrades of one of Clemson’s crown jewels, the Watt Family Innovation Center.
Steven Watt earned his degree from Clemson in 1981 and his wife, Pam, earned her Clemson degree in 1983. Steve serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer of Scientific Research Corporation (SRC) and continues his commitment to the Clemson community through his service as the Chairman of the President’s Advisory Board. He also previously served on the Board of Visitors with Pam and was a recipient of the Clemson Distinguished Service Award in 2020. Steve and Pam have translated their passion for Clemson to instrumental contributions in support of IPTAY, the President’s Leadership Circle, and the School of Nursing – providing funding to purchase the “Harvey Watt” simulation patient for heart and pulmonary training. Pam and Steve also serve on IPTAY’s Campaign Committee. Their two children and spouses, Brandon (’08, ‘10) his spouse Janani, Brittany Watt Childers (’13) and her spouse Chase (’13), are avid supporters of the Tigers. They are also the proud grandparents of a future Tiger, Hunter Chase Childers. Michael Watt and his wife, Kimberly, both earned degrees from Clemson in 1984 and 1985 respectively. In partnership with his brother, Mike is the co-owner of SRC and serves as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. His service
to Clemson spans 20 years and encompasses a number of philanthropic assignments that include his time on the Clemson University Foundation Board as well as the Research Foundation Board. Mike has also been highly engaged with the engineering program at Clemson beginning with his service on the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisory Board and continuing with his support of the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences (CECAS) Advisory Board, which he chaired for several years. Mike and Kim currently serve on the National Campaign Committee for the College and are members of the CECAS Leadership Circle. In 2008, Mike was inducted into the Thomas Green Clemson Academy of Engineers and Scientists. In 2018, he was also recognized with the Clemson Distinguished Service Award. Apart from their involvement in the creation of the Watt Family Innovation Center, Mike and Kim have been active supporters of the CECAS Dean’s Excellence Fund, Barker Scholars, President’s Fund, and IPTAY. The couple shares their affinity for Clemson with their three children and their spouses: Wesley (’13), Austin (’16) and his spouse Megan (’16), and Mary-Katherine Watt Burton (’21) and her spouse Will. They are the proud grandparents of a future Tiger, Hampton Blake Watt. Wes is a Past President of the Young Alumni Council and a member of the Advisory Boards for both the Department of Political Science and Clemson University Libraries.
The family’s patriarch, Dr. Charles Watt (’59), is the founder and former chairman of SRC. He served as the founding executive director of the Watt Family Innovation Center and as a former Dean of the College of Business, and was recognized for two of Clemson’s most distinct honors; the Distinguished Service Award (2011) and the Clemson Medallion (2022). His wife, Linda, a practicing nurse for many years, is a proud Clemson supporter, spouse, and mother. Linda earned an honorary alumni designation in 2021.
A Clemson family through and through, this most recent commitment from the families of Steven and Michael Watt will continue to propel the resources for Clemson studentathletes to new heights. Their philanthropic leadership and unwavering dedication to both Clemson Athletics and the greater Clemson University community will undoubtedly foster an enhanced atmosphere of excellence and innovation for years to come.
The Game Plan For Growing a Greater Greenville:
ACCELERATE ECONOMIC GROWTH
ADVOCATE FOR BUSINESSES
CONNECT BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE
DEVELOP TALENT AND LEADERS INCLUDE EVERYONE
More wins for your business means more wins for our community. Learn more.
ACC CHAMPIONS!
On Sunday, November 12th,
Clemson Men’s Soccer defeated the University of North Carolina in the final game of the ACC Championship to clinch the title. The Tigers will further their season as they play in the 2023 College Cup.
WITH HIS 166TH CAREER VICTORY, DABO SWINNEY PASSED LEGEND FRANK HOWARD TO BECOME CLEMSON FOOTBALL’S ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH.
BY ROSS TAYLOR
DESPITE BEING A MAN PRONE TO FASCINATION WITH NUMEROLOGY and the significance of numbers in his career and life, the number 166 hadn’t really held much meaning for Dabo Swinney.
The significance and meaning of that number found Swinney on its own in early November when Swinney earned his 166th career victory to become Clemson’s all-time winningest coach. Swinney’s Tigers earned an emotional 3123 win against No. 12 Notre Dame to set the record in front of a sellout crowd at Memorial Stadium.
Swinney mentioned several goals he actively pursued and envisioned. Among them: graduating his players at an uncommon rate, equipping the young men in his program with tools for life, winning ACC Championships and winning national championships. Becoming Clemson’s all-time wins leader was not on that list.
“It’s not anything I ever dreamed about,” Swinney said. “It’s never been a goal or anything like that. It’s just, ‘Here we are.’ You put your head down and go to work.”
Swinney set the record by passing College Football Hall of Famer Frank Howard, who compiled a 165-118-12 record in 30 seasons at Clemson from 1940-69. While Swinney and Clemson faithful had hoped for the record to be set sooner amid a tough 2023 season for the Tigers, Swinney joked he could feel the influence of “The Bashful Baron of Barlow Bend.”
“Frank Howard has probably gotten in pretty good with God up there, and knowing Coach Howard, he’s probably got
his ear. I can hear him right now, ‘We’re going to make this hard on this ol’ boy,’” Swinney said postgame. “I think Coach Howard wanted to remind everybody that it ain’t easy to win.”
Though Swinney neither sought the moment nor seemed prepared to linger in it, the day and evening packed an emotional punch.
After the game, Swinney revealed that the head coach known for wearing his heart on his sleeve also carried his father’s thumbprint in his pocket that day. In August 2015, his father, Ervil, passed away following a battle with cancer. Amid his fight, Ervil reiterated to his son that he was going to make it to Clemson’s much-anticipated home game that season against Notre Dame, a team for whom Ervil held significant distaste.
“It was the only game he wanted to come to, and at that time Clemson hadn’t played Notre Dame since the ‘70s,” Dabo said.
Though Ervil did not make it to Clemson’s memorable “Bring Your Own Guts” win against the Irish in 2015, his memory did. The day before that contest, Dabo’s wife, Kathleen, received a small trinket from the funeral home – an impression of Ervil’s thumbprint.
As Swinney prepared again for the Irish in 2023, that thumbprint made its way into Swinney’s pocket and onto Memorial Stadium’s sidelines.
“That’s the first time I’ve brought my dad with me, if you will,” Swinney said.
Swinney closed his postgame press conference by recounting that story of his father and then departed to tape
segments for his syndicated television show, “Inside Clemson Football with Dabo Swinney”. After taping segments in which he watched and commented on the game’s highlights, producers for the program told him they had one more video for him to review.
Swinney then watched a three-minute compilation video of congratulations and well-wishes submitted by coaches, former players, current players, family members and others impacted by him. Swinney’s smile grew larger and larger as each face appeared on the screen.
Former defensive coordinator Brent Venables. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow. Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. Former offensive coordinator Tony Elliott. Linebacker James Skalski, and many others.
One by one, each expressed their congratulations and admiration.
“Not bad for a D+ hire, if you ask me,” joked defensive end K.J. Henry, eliciting a laugh from Swinney, whose hire in 2008 famously received that grade from ESPN.com.
Congratulations came from his three sons, Will, Drew and Clay. But Swinney eyes began to mist and he became noticeably touched upon seeing the faces and hearing the words of a couple of his primary mentors in the business.
“[Becoming Clemson’s winningest coach] is a big compliment to you, your players and the staff,” said Woody
McCorvey, Swinney’s chief of staff who was Swinney’s position coach during his playing days at Alabama.
Perhaps none hit harder though than seeing well wishes from Gene Stallings, the College Football Hall of Fame head coach at Alabama for whom Swinney played and under whom Swinney got his start in coaching.
“Dabo, what a pleasure it is to congratulate you on being the winningest coach at Clemson in a short period of time,” Stallings said. “You are an outstanding example for all of us that are in the coaching profession. Your win-loss record speaks for itself, but the way you handle yourself is extremely impressive and important.”
Late in the video, it was Venables that perhaps best described Swinney’s grander contributions to college football beyond his win-loss ledger.
“There is a saying that a good coach can win a game but a great coach can change a life, and I am in a long line of former players and coaches that you’ve genuinely enriched and changed our lives,” added Venables.
Swinney estimated he spent about three hours on Saturday night into the wee hours of Sunday morning returning congratulatory text messages. He joked that he needed to answer them before going to bed, because when he woke up Sunday, it would be time to start all over again.
“I’m thankful, and now I just want to get to 167,” Swinney said.
FROM THE GROUND UP
BY MAKENNA BIEHL
CLEMSON MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TENNIS PROGRAMS REBUILD UNDER NEW COACHING STAFFS.
CLEMSON MEN’S TENNIS
AUSTIN RAPP
Assistant Coach
IBRANDON WAGNER
Head Coach
N JUNE 2023, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS GRAHAM NEFF ANNOUNCED the addition of new coaches to both the men’s and women’s tennis programs. Following the hires, Neff expressed that he was confident that the new coaches would positively contribute to Clemson Tennis.
Clemson Men’s Tennis is now under the leadership of Head Coach Brandon Wagner. Wagner began his involvement with collegiate tennis when he began his college career at the University of Georgia. He earned his bachelor’s degree in speech communication and was a member of the Dean’s Honor Roll, achieving greatness on the tennis court. While playing for the Bulldogs, Wagner was a part of an NCAA Championship finals team for two years straight in 200102. He also worked well individually as he played in the quarterfinals of the 2002 NCAA singles tournament, earning his All-America honors. After playing professionally, Wagner finished his playing career when he ranked as high as No. 441, winning two tournament titles.
Wagner took his first steps into coaching as a professional circuit touring coach, guiding several notable players, including former American tennis player John Isner. While coaching professional players, he mentored a handful of junior players who reached the top five of The United States Tennis Association (USTA) national rankings.
From 2012-15, Wagner stepped into the role as the Associate Head Coach for the University of South Florida. With his help, the team won the American Athletic Conference championship, taking them to two consecutive NCAA Tournaments in 2014-15. During their post-season run in 2015, the team reached the round of 16 for the first time in school history, finishing No.16, the program’s highest final ranking.
Following a successful stint at USF, Wagner worked as an assistant and associate head coach at the University of Texas. In 2023, the Longhorns took the Big 12 Championship before making their national semifinal appearance. Wagner’s success coaching at Texas led to him being named the Texas Regional Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Assistant Coach of the Year. Wagner, his wife, Karyna, and their twin children, Braven and Brielle, have since headed to Clemson as Brandon has been named Head Coach of the men’s tennis program.
SANDER
KONING
Assistant Coach
“I am proud to be part of the family at Clemson, a prestigious institution with a rich history and a bright future. I can’t wait to contribute to this legacy.”
The men’s program has also added Assistant Coach Austin Rapp, a familiar face for Wagner. Rapp played collegiate tennis at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) from 2015 to 18, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science and government. He had an incredibly successful senior season when he made his All-America status. In the same season, Rapp paired with Keegan Smith as they finished No. 6 in the ITA doubles rankings, advancing to the semifinals of the NCAA Doubles Championship. UCLA was home for Rapp as his brother, Connor, also played for the Bruins men’s tennis team. Following his collegiate career, Rapp had a run playing professional tennis, where he reached career-high ATP rankings of 328 in doubles and 672 in singles, alongside ITF rankings of 38 in doubles and 302 in singles.
After retiring from playing, Rapp was a volunteer assistant coach for the University of Texas for the 2021-22 seasons, working alongside Wagner. Following his time with the Longhorns, Rapp was named assistant coach of the Clemson Men’s Tennis program in July 2022 before his addition to Wagner’s staff in June 2023.
Assistant Coach and former Tiger Sander Koning is the final addition to the men's tennis program. Koning held the No.1 singles and No. 1 doubles position during his collegiate career at Clemson, where he was a two-time All-ACC Player (2003, 2005) and four-time selection to the All-ACC Academic Team (2002-06). He positively impacted the university as he was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the men’s tennis team captain in 2005-06.
Koning played professionally before he entered the coaching world when he worked as the head coach of the Georgia Southern Men’s Tennis team from 2015 to 20. Throughout his five years, he held a record of 79-67 and was named the 2017-18 Sun Belt Co-Coach of the Year. Koning made his return to Clemson when he was a volunteer assistant coach under Amy Sargeant’s team. Since then, he has transitioned to the men’s team in June 2023 under Coach Wagner.
CLEMSON WOMEN’S TENNIS IS NOW FOLLOWING THE AUTHORITY OF Head Coach Boomer Saia. Saia played collegiate tennis at Cowley College, earning his bachelor’s degree in Sports Management in 2011. Following his collegiate career, he served as a volunteer assistant at Kansas University from 2010-14 while earning his master’s in Sports Administration. Following his time at Kansas, Saia has served as the assistant coach at several universities - The University of Oklahoma (2014-16), Vanderbilt University (2016-17), and Texas Tech University (2018).
Saia stepped into his first head coach position at Iowa State University for the 2019-2023 seasons. He got the program to its first three NCAA Tournaments in program history, including a quarterfinal appearance and No. 8 final ranking in 2023. The same year, the team played in the semifinal of the ITA National Indoor Championships, ranking as high as No. 4 in the nation. The program’s No. 4 ranking was a 211spot climb from where they stood when Saia got control of the program. While leading the Cyclones, Saia set records in Big 12 wins, overall wins, all-conference selections, and NCAA appearances while breaking several winless streaks. He was named the 2021 and 2023 Big 12 Coach of the Year.
Saia, his wife, and their two sons, Ryder and Weston, headed to Clemson as Boomer was named the fifth Head Coach of the women’s tennis program in June 2023
“I couldn’t be prouder to represent the Paw and build this program back to a national power.”
Working alongside Coach Saia is Associate Head Coach Ashleigh Antal. Antal had an impactful tennis career, starting when she was a five-star high school recruit, being nationally ranked No. 30 in her graduating class. Antal took her athletic and academic success to Vanderbilt University, where she graduated in 2016 with a double major in Psychology and English with a concentration in creative writing.
While playing for the Commodores’, she helped lead the program to its first national championship during the 2015 season, the same year they earned the 2015 SEC title. She started all four years while being a two-year captain for the team. Antal reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA doubles tournament, was named an NCAA Double All-American her senior season, and had a career-high ranking of No. 9 in doubles and No. 101 in singles.
Antal started her coaching career at California State University Long Beach from 2018-20, winning the 2019 Big West title. Following her first coaching position, she began as the head women’s tennis coach at Appalachian State University in November 2020. She set program history during her time with the Mountaineers as the team obtained their first NIT selection and the first post-season run for the
program. Antal joined the Tigers women’s tennis program in June 2023.
The Clemson Women’s Tennis program also added Associate Head Coach Tom Rees. Rees played his first collegiate tennis season at Tusculum University, where he held the No. 1 singles and doubles spot. Alongside his teammates, the Pioneers obtained a No. 28 national ranking and made it to the SAC Tournament finals.
Following his first collegiate tennis season, Rees took his talent to UNC-Asheville from 2009-12, earning his bachelor’s degree in French with a minor in management. While playing for the Bulldogs, the team made a second-place finish in the Big South Conference, while individually, Rees was a Big South All-Conference selection and the league’s No. 2 doubles champion. Following college, he played on the ITF professional circuit in European and U.S. tournaments from 2012-16.
In 2012, Rees began coaching as an assistant coach at North Georgia while playing professional tournaments and getting his master’s in Public Administration. While there, he guided the men’s program to a No. 23 national ranking with a spot in the NCAA Championships. In addition, the team set a new program high in win totals on the women’s side, and Rees was named the 2014 ITA Southeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year.
From 2014-16, Rees held the role of head coach of both men’s and women’s tennis programs at the University of Illinois-Springfield. He had great success coaching at IllinoisSpringfield, earning program-high win totals for both teams. Rees then stepped into the head coach position of the men’s and women’s tennis programs at Lenoir-Rhyne University from 2016-19, where he led both teams to their first national rankings in program history. Rees took a break from coaching collegiate tennis in the summers of 2017 and 2018 as an ATP Tour coach. During that time, he led professional tennis player Rubin Statham to a New Zealand No. 1 ranking and a top-300 ATP Pro ranking. Rees additionally coached professional American tennis player Marcos Giron to a top-75 ATP Pro ranking.
Rees returned to coaching collegiate tennis from 201921 as the assistant women’s tennis coach at Kansas State University, leading the team to as high as No. 38 in the college rankings. Following his handful of years at Kansas State, Rees was named head women’s tennis coach at the University of the Incarnate Word. While there, his team won the 2022 ITA Texas Regional Doubles Title to qualify for nationals. Rees decided to step into his role with the Clemson women’s tennis program in June 2023.
Both the men’s and women’s tennis programs expect great success as the new coaching staff steps into their roles.
JORDAN FAMILY INVESTS IN IPTAY AND CLEMSON ATHLETICS WITH CORNERSTONE PARTNER CONTRIBUTION
THE PRACTICE FIELDS AT THE ALLEN N. REEVES FOOTBALL COMPLEX WERE NAMED IN HONOR OF THEIR GENEROSITY.
BY BROOKE ROBBINS
IPTAY AND CLEMSON ATHLETICS HAVE ANNOUNCED THE JORDAN FAMILY
as an Athletic Cornerstone Partner following their incredible commitment to support Clemson student-athletes with a gift of $2.5 million. The contribution from Robert “Bob” and Patricia “Pat” Jordan was commemorated with a ribbon cutting at the new practice fields on Friday, November 10 prior to their in-game recognition on Saturday, November 11 as Clemson Football defeated Georgia Tech. The practice fields at the facility will be formally known as the Jordan Family Practice Fields.
The Allen N. Reeves Football Complex serves as one of the largest and most advanced training centers in the country, and the facility has become a 178,000-square-foot sanctuary for its athletes. Designed to support the day-to-day activities of the players, coaches, and staff, the complex was created to further elevate the Clemson Football program in all facets of the operation from the training and development of current student-athletes to recruitment and beyond.
Currently residing in Greenville, S.C., Bob and Pat serve as Order of the Oak Ambassadors for the Clemson University Foundation. Order of the Oak Ambassadors are a group of Clemson’s most trusted supporters and advocates created to provide wisdom, guidance, and momentum to meet the changes and challenges of the future while fulfilling the university’s land-grant mission.
Bob’s pursuit of a career in engineering led him to work for companies like Daniel Construction, Fluor Daniel, and
and Chief Operating Officer for Chicago Bridge & Iron. Following his success throughout his engineering career, Bob and Pat purchased the Tennessee Electric Company in 2007, which was renamed in 2010 to TEC Industrial Maintenance & Construction and purchased in 2020 by Comfort Systems USA, Inc. The Jordans also own Caroland Farms, a full-blood Wagyu beef cattle farm located in Landrum, S.C. and in Roaring River, N.C.
Bob and Pat have two sons, Aaron and Eric. Aaron Jordan, alongside his wife, Jennie, reside in Greenville with their two children, Taylor and Jenna. He currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of TEC Industrial Maintenance & Construction. Eric Jordan graduated from Clemson in 1998 and currently serves as Executive Director, Commercial and Government Accounts for Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Eric and his wife, Tressa, also a graduate of Clemson, reside in Greenville with their two children, Hunter and Anne Asbury.
Through their leadership and philanthropic generosity, Bob and Pat Jordan now serve as champions for the mission and vision of Clemson University. Their most recent support toward IPTAY and Clemson Athletics will serve to further cement their legacy of generosity toward the Clemson community and will continue fostering the culture of maintaining the highest possible standard for the Clemson student-athlete experience.
Rust Engineering & Construction prior to being recruited to serve as Chief of Staff
TIGERS IN THE COMMUNITY
Clemson student-athletes across all 21 sports participate in a wide variety of community service and engagement activities each year. Check out some of the latest photos of your Tigers in the community.
P.A.W. JOURNEY IS A LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE THAT HOLISTICALLY develops Clemson Football scholar-athletes through personal growth, life skills, and professional development.
P.A.W., an acronym for “Passionate About Winning,” encourages football student leaders to maintain a continually competitive posture towards all aspects of the journey of life. This journey prepares each young man to apply their leadership, while also challenging them to seek new victories in their careers, communities, and households.
P.A.W Journey is an $11 million endowment initiative that is approximately $6 million from reaching the endowment goal. Achieving this milestone is crucial to ensuring that P.A.W
Journey remains a permanent fixture at Clemson University, providing holistic development, career opportunities, and first-class experiences for scholar-athletes for the life of Clemson Football.
VISION P.A.W. Journey will be the paragon of student-athlete development and player relations in the industry of athletics by producing first-class men, world-class leaders.
MISSION Through sacrifice, truth, and discipline, P.A.W Journey will love and celebrate who our football scholarathletes are as men and leaders.
VALUES Humanity, Work Ethic, Independence, Excellence, and Servant Leadership.
STAFF
ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT: ELEVATED TAILGATE
The purpose of the Elevated Tailgate goes beyond the festivities; it's about honoring the rich history of Clemson Football and the remarkable individuals who have shaped it. The event serves as a space to recognize the enduring impact of the P.A.W. Journey, a holistic development program that molds scholar-athletes into future leaders. It is a testament to the power of giving back, fostering a sense of community, and appreciating the enduring brotherhood that defines Clemson Football.
"Honor Your Legacy" was the theme that echoed through the evening, capturing the essence of OVERTIME's vision. This sentiment reverberated as football alumni gathered to reminisce, reconnect, and reaffirm their commitment to Clemson's future. Among the attendees were notable figures, including former players Travis Blanks, John Wright, and Robert Smith, who epitomize the spirit of giving back to P.A.W. Journey.
Antoine McClain, the Director of Former Player Engagement at P.A.W. Journey, collaborating with Clemson Football alumnus Coty Sensabaugh and his wife, Dominique, created an event that was nothing short of spectacular. Together, they orchestrated an unforgettable evening of fellowship and unity, reminding everyone of the bonds that tie the Clemson family together.
The impact of the Elevated Tailgate goes beyond the joyous moments shared; it's about giving back. This year, the event raised an astounding $175,000 through Clemson Football Alumni for P.A.W. Journey’s holistic development programs. This substantial contribution will undoubtedly pave the way for future scholar-athletes, ensuring they receive the support and guidance necessary to succeed both on and off the field. What makes this event truly special is its ability to bridge the past and the future. It's a night where legends and aspiring athletes come together, where stories of triumph and perseverance inspire the next generation. The Elevated Tailgate embodies the essence of Clemson - a place where tradition meets progress, and where the spirit of community prevails.
The Elevated Tailgate is more than just an event; it's a testament to the enduring spirit of Clemson. As the football alumni, P.A.W. Journey partners, and IPTAY donors gathered under the starlit sky, they did more than celebrate; they reaffirmed their commitment to the ideals that make Clemson University a beacon of excellence. Here’s to honoring the legacy, fostering fellowship, and embracing the future at the Elevated Tailgate - a tradition that continues to inspire and unite the Clemson family, one celebration at a time.
The objective of expressing heartfelt gratitude to our generous donors and honoring the esteemed Clemson Football alumni being inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame is to foster a strong sense of appreciation and recognition within P.A.W. Journey. By acknowledging the financial support provided by our donors through sincere gestures of thanks and dedicated service, we aim to demonstrate our profound appreciation for their contributions, emphasizing the critical role they play in shaping the lives of scholar-athletes.
Furthermore, our objective is to celebrate the accomplishments and legacy of Clemson Football alumni being inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame. By
recognizing their achievements, we aim to inspire current scholar-athletes and provide them with role models who exemplify excellence on and off the field. This celebration serves as a reminder of the rich history and tradition of Clemson Football, instilling a sense of pride and motivation among our athletes.
Our goal is to create a meaningful and memorable experience for our donors, convey our gratitude for their generosity, and to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Clemson Football alumni. Through these initiatives, we aim to strengthen the sense of community within P.A.W. Journey, inspire our scholar-athletes, and reinforce the value of lifelong connections and support.
LEADERS THROUGH P.A.W. JOURNEY
The legacy of Clemson Football transcends the boundaries of the field, defined by the commitment of its alumni to nurturing well-rounded future leaders. Through P.A.W. Journey, several distinguished football alumni have joined forces to leave an indelible mark.
Travis Blanks: Cultivating Future Leaders Through Commitment
Travis Blanks, a revered former Clemson Football player, alongside his wife Chandler, has made a substantial contribution to the P.A.W. Journey program. Their generosity underscores the importance of holistic personal and professional development, embodying the very essence of the program’s mission. Blanks' commitment to cultivating competitive spirit aligns seamlessly with P.A.W. Journey’s objective of preparing young men for victories not just in the game, but also in their careers, communities, and households.
Robert Smith: Inspiring Excellence in Every Endeavor
Robert Smith, a prominent figure in Clemson Football history, has generously invested in the P.A.W. Journey program. His belief in the transformative power of mentorship and education shines through his contribution. Smith’s involvement serves as a beacon, guiding scholar-athletes toward a path of excellence in all aspects of life. His dedication mirrors the program’s commitment to celebrating the potential within each individual and encouraging them to become exemplary leaders, holistically developed and wellprepared for life's challenges.
John Wright Jr.: Shaping Future Tiger Leaders
John Wright Jr., alongside his wife Courtland, has made a significant investment in the next generation of Clemson
leaders. Wright’s engagement in public service and commercial real estate perfectly embodies the spirit of independence and servant leadership championed by P.A.W. Journey. His contribution reflects the program’s goal of empowering young men to embrace challenges and emerge victorious in their life journeys, reflecting the ideals of holistic development.
Byron Maxwell: A Champion of Positive Impact
Byron Maxwell’s dedication to giving back showcases the essence of humanity and excellence upheld by P.A.W. Journey. His commitment to community development and mentorship aligns seamlessly with the program's vision of producing firstclass men and world-class leaders. Maxwell’s philanthropy echoes the core values of the initiative, emphasizing the importance of positive impact and lifelong learning, ensuring that every scholar-athlete emerges from the program not just as a skilled athlete, but as a well-rounded individual ready to make a difference.
The collective contributions of Travis Blanks, Robert Smith, John Wright Jr., and Byron Maxwell stand as a testament to the enduring legacy of Clemson Football. Their investments in P.A.W. Journey exemplify the spirit of competitive posture, integrity, and community engagement, emphasizing the importance of holistic development. These alumni serve as guiding lights, paving the way for future generations of Tiger leaders, fostering a culture of excellence and leadership that extends far beyond the football field. Through their dedication, they continue to shape the future of Clemson, inspiring young minds to reach for the stars, and reminding us all that the true power of Clemson Football lies in the holistic development and positive impact it instills in the lives it touches.
2023 - 2024
We are excited to introduce the 2023-24 cohort for POWER: Women’s Leadership Academy! This initiative serves as developmental programming for Clemson’s female student-athletes, made possible by contributions toward Hear Her Roar.
JULIAN BELL LACROSSE Bedford, N.H.
KAITLIN DEGUZMAN GYMNASTICS Dallas, Texas
TRINITY BROWN GYMNASTICS Upper Marlboro, Md.
DANIELLE RAUCH BASKETBALL Syracuse, N.Y.
MACKENZIE KRAMER BASKETBALL Saint Michael, Minn.
STEPHANIE HAMPTON ROWING Grosse Point Park, Mich.
JOY NEAL ROWING Columbus, Ohio
MADDIE KAVANAGH ROWING East Greenwich, R.I.
SYDNEY MINARIK SOCCER Huntersville, N.C.
ALLY LYNCH SOCCER Los Angeles, Calif.
MADDIE MOORE SOFTBALL Loomis, Calif.
BROOKE MCCUBBIN SOFTBALL Locust Grove, Ga.
ABY VIEIRA SOFTBALL Mission Viejo, Calif.
MAKENZIE STEELE TRACK & FIELD Glen Allen, Va.
MEREDITH FINLEY TRACK & FIELD Randolph, N.J.
JESSICA JOHNSON TRACK & FIELD Summerville, S.C.
KATHERINE SCHUSTER GOLF Kill Devil Hills, N.C.
AZYAH DAILEY VOLLEYBALL Port Charlotte, Fla.
TIGER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
TIGER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (TLA) IS A TWO-YEAR, MULTISPORT program designed to refine student-athletes’ leadership abilities, gain confidence in utilizing influence, build community among other student-athlete leaders, and be prepared to lead in any phase of life.
In cohorts of 15-20, the student-athletes spend time learning about and discussing different leadership models and styles by participating in five workshops a semester. Over two years, the student-athletes will have completed 10 leadership sessions. TLA includes several activities, opportunities to collaborate with peers and time for reflection for studentathletes to identify their own leadership philosophies.
The Fall 2023 cohorts were selected in October The Spring 2024 cohorts will be selected at the end of the semester.
FALL 2023 COHORT 1
“TLA is a life-changing experience. If you are seeking the opportunity to grow your leadership skills in all areas of life, this is the group for you.”
FALL 2023 COHORT 2
BARRETT CARTER JUNIOR · FOOTBALL · LINEBACKER
BILLY BARLOW BASEBALL
REBECCA WELLS GYMNASTICS
TRINITY BROWN GYMNASTICS
CHAUNCEY WIGGINS
CLEMSON RING OF HONOR INDUCTEE: JULIE COIN
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS YEAR’S RECIPIENT OF THE HIGHEST HONOR BESTOWED BY THE CLEMSON ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT.
BY TIM BOURRET
JULIE COIN, A THREE-TIME ALL-AMERICAN ON CLEMSON’S FINAL FOUR women’s tennis teams of 2004 and 2005, was inducted into the Clemson Ring of Honor during the weekend of November 3rd. Coin is the second women’s tennis player to be presented with the highest honor bestowed by the Clemson athletic department, as All-American Susan Hill was inducted in 2011.
The Clemson women’s tennis squads of 2004 and 2005 are still the only women’s athletics teams in school history to reach the Final Four of an NCAA Tournament in any sport.
As a sophomore in 2003-04, Coin won the Frank Howard Award, the department-wide accolade for bringing honor to Clemson. The following year, she was named IPTAY Athleteof-the-Year, another department-wide award that takes into account athletic and academic excellence.
“Julie Coin lives up to her name…she is a jewel,” said former Clemson Head Coach Nancy Harris. “She has been a great ambassador for Clemson, her country (France) and her family. Julie and her teammates were part of the legacy team at Clemson, and I am happy they all came back to be a part of the event. Julie was a quiet leader who was as smart as a whip. We would be on a road trip and all of a sudden, she would yell from the back of the van, ‘Nance, you just missed a turn’.”
Coin graduated with a degree in mathematics in just three years and was a three-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll, including 2003-04, when she was on the Dean’s List.
Coin finished her Clemson career with a 101-20 singles record. Her 83.5 winning percentage is still second to Hill’s among players who were on the Tiger team more than one year. Coin is the only Clemson women’s tennis player to reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Individual Singles Tournament twice. She also finished 90-27 in doubles play in her three years.
As a freshman in 2003, Coin was the 2003 ITA Southeast Region doubles champion and was named All-ACC. She posted a 31-6 singles record as Clemson’s No. 1 singles player. Harris knew she had a talented player from the first time she saw her at Clemson.
“I still remember the first day I practiced with her at Hoke Sloan Tennis Center,” recalled Harris. “She was attacking the ball on every shot, which is what great players do. At one
point, I brought her to the net and told her she could one day be a top-60 player in the world. She smiled back and went right back to work. I think I put a little seed in her that day. Julie had a ferocious appetite to learn and live up to a high standard. She came so alive on the tennis court and gave everything she had.”
In 2004, Coin won two individual ACC championships, one in singles and one in doubles, and was named MVP of the ACC. She finished the year as the No. 8 player in the nation in the ITA poll and reached the Final Four of the NCAA Singles Tournament. Her 32-9 record included a 4-1 record in the NCAA Individual Tournament.
That 2004 season, Clemson won the ACC championship and had a 26-4 overall record, including a 7-0 mark in the ACC. The team was ranked No. 5 in the final poll, still the highest ranking in program history.
In her final season (2005), Coin posted a 38-5 singles record and 32-8 doubles mark. She was named an AllAmerican in singles and doubles competition and reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. She was ranked No. 2 in the final ITA singles rankings and reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
During her career, Clemson had a 67-19 overall record, including 22-3 in ACC play. Twenty-two of the wins were over top-25 teams.
“What made her a great player was that she was tall and fast,” explained Harris. “She was like a gazelle on the tennis court. But, she was very powerful. Her serve was clocked at 120 miles per hour. She was also very coachable and very focused. When we had meetings in the locker room, she would take notes and listen.”
Coin turned professional in 2005 and retired in 2016. She is now a teaching professional in France, where she lives with her husband and children.
Coin’s most famous accomplishment as a professional took place at the 2008 U.S. Open, where, as the No. 188 player in the world, she defeated top-ranked Ana Ivanovic. It marked the first time a man or woman had come through qualifying to defeat the top seed in the first or second round of the U.S. Open.
“I will always remember going to the media area with her after she won,” added Harris. “There were two media sessions going on, and Rafa Nadal was in the other room. Just about everyone was with Julie.”
THE BOND OF TEAMMATES
"Julie was caring and a great leader in every way. She set the bar high for all of us, and was a very disciplined person on and off the court. Her work ethic was off the charts and all of her preparation made her a confident and amazing player. She had no ego and was humble even with all of her achievements. As a homesick freshman who barely spoke English, she took me under her wing and treated me like family."
- DANIELA ALVAREZ
"Julie was a wonderful teammate on and off the court. She was more of a quiet leader, leading by example and setting high expectations for everyone. She was committed to be as good as she could be and was equally strong physically and mentally."
- LAURENCE BRAYZ
"Julie was a great leader. Even though Julie was #1, she never made us feel she was above us and was super involved with each of us on the court. She had all the tools to bring out the best of me even in the tough moments. She always had the right words to say at the right time. Julie was very disciplined and focused and as a friend off the court, she has always been special because she is patient, honest, and very loyal. I could always count on her for anything, just like a sister."
- ALIX LACELARIE-KAUTZZ
"Back then, despite Julie being #1 in the nation, it was easy to forget how great of a player she was because she was that much greater of a person, friend, and teammate. As a teammate and friend, Julie was humble, had a positive energy, loved to laugh, and understood balance in life."
- RICHELE LESALDOZ
"I met Julie during my official visit in November of 2004 around Thanksgiving. As a teammate, she was kind, supportive, and funny! When it came to leadership, her actions were always louder than her words. Her preparation, work ethic, and confidence made her a fierce competitor. She was always prepared, physically and mentally, to battle and win. She motivated me to always do better and to be the best I could be."
- CAROLINA ALVES DE LIMA SALGEZ
CHOSEN FAMILY
BY VALERIE JOHNSON
SWATCH THE FULL EPISODE
Watch the full episode featuring McKenzie Clark’s incredible story today, exclusively on Clemson+. IPTAY members receive complimentary access to Clemson+ as a benefit of membership. Activate your account or log in today to start streaming the best behind-the-scenes content across all Clemson Athletics programs.
ENIOR OUTFIELDER MCKENZIE CLARK’S LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL testament to the power of love and family. Born in Minnesota, she was adopted as a newborn by Brian and Carrie Clark, who couldn’t have children of their own. From the very beginning, her parents and older brother, Hunter, provided her with unwavering support and nurtured her passion for softball. This season, she enters her senior year as the starting centerfielder for a program entering its fifth season that has reached unparalleled milestones that she helped build the foundation for. Her journey is a heartwarming example of how family isn’t just about blood but about choosing to love someone unconditionally, no matter the circumstances.
McKenzie's journey began when she was adopted as a newborn. Brian and Carrie, who had adopted McKenzie’s older brother, Hunter, two years prior, made the journey from Florida to Minnesota to expand their family further.
Brian and Carrie were willing to embrace the ups and downs that came with adopting two children to make their family complete.
From an early age, McKenzie wanted to do everything her brother was doing, including spending time at the diamond. Hunter and her parents were instrumental in developing her love for the sport. They spent countless hours at the field, cheering her on and providing guidance. Her dad and mom weren’t just her parents, but they became her coaches and mentors, helping her develop the skills and determination needed to excel in softball.
McKenzie's journey in softball wasn't without its challenges. The game demands dedication, hard work, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Yet, with the unconditional support from her family, she honed her skills and developed into an outstanding athlete. She had a hunger to win inside of her, and her parents
showed her how to harness that hunger and passion into success.
Ultimately, McKenzie's talent and dedication led her to a pivotal decision – the opportunity to play collegiate softball at Clemson University. Her choice to become a Tiger was a deeply personal one, a decision that reflected her character and the values instilled in her by her family. In a beautiful parallel to her own life, just as her parents chose her as their daughter, she chose Clemson as her new family and home.
The bond that was formed between McKenzie and her parents, who have always been there to lift her up and celebrate her successes, is the same bond she found at Clemson with her coaches and teammates. McKenzie’s own choice to join the Clemson community allowed her to foster her passion and etch her name into Clemson Softball’s history.
A reminder that family isn't solely defined by genetics; it's defined by love, support, and the conscious choice to stand by each other's side. Her remarkable journey to her senior year at Clemson showcases the transformative power of love and determination and serves as an inspiration to all who watched her grow and succeed in the sport she loves.
“My mom and dad have done an amazing job of teaching me to be the woman I am today,” said McKenzie. “It doesn’t matter where you come from. It doesn’t matter what you look like. It doesn’t matter if you are blood or not, we are a family. Family to me is unconditional love for a stranger you are willing to get on a plane for. True unconditional love is how I would describe the Clark family.”
If you are considering adoption, please contact your local adoption agency. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Clark family if you have any questions.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
MATT LOMBARDI’S JOURNEY LEADS HIM BACK TO WHERE IT ALL STARTED.
BY JONATHAN FRANCHI
T ’S TRULY A SPECIAL PLACE.” THAT SEEMS TO BE THE CONSENSUS feeling about Clemson University. The welcoming, family atmosphere is felt throughout the campus and extends to the students, sport coaches and faculty. Once people get here, they don’t want to leave. The same can be said for Clemson alum Matt Lombardi. Once a star for the Clemson Track and Field team, Lombardi is now the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Academics.
Lombardi originally hails from Seekonk, Mass. and arrived at Clemson in 1999 as a thrower for the track and field team, meaning he competed in shot put, discus, and hammer throw events. He chose Clemson because of their championship tradition in track and their superior facilities and support resources for athletes. During his career at Clemson from 1999-2004, Lombardi was a part of 4 ACC Championship teams and earned All-ACC honors in 2004.
When talking about his favorite memory from his athletic career, the former track star pointed to the 2004 ACC Outdoor Championships in his senior year after Florida State had broken Clemson’s three-year streak of ACC Championships.
“The rivalry had gotten really intense. Heading into the outdoor season that year we were really motivated as a team. We ended up winning convincingly and set an ACC record for most team points ever scored in a championship (224). Individually, in that meet, I also reached one of my career goals which was to podium, placing in the top-3 and earn All-ACC Honors.”
Lombardi graduated from Clemson, earning an undergraduate degree in science teaching with an emphasis in biological sciences. He would eventually get a master’s degree in kinesiology at Georgia Southern and another master’s in counselor education. Lombardi’s original plan, however, was quite different from the route he ended up taking.
Lombardi’s original goal was to become a high school teacher and coach, and a job in college athletics was not on his mind. He was offered a graduate assistant position in strength and conditioning at Georgia Southern by his old Clemson strength coach, Tom Melton, which opened his eyes to a career in college athletics.
“I realized working with young adults in an athletics setting was a pretty awesome job.”
After working in strength and conditioning, Lombardi realized that was not the career for him. Stemming from his longing to become a teacher, he combined his passion for education with his love for athletics. He reached out to Georgia Southern to let them know he was interested in student athlete advising. Working three plus years in advising for Georgia Southern Athletics, an opportunity arose that Lombardi could not pass up.
“Once I knew I wanted to work in college athletics, the goal was always to be back at Clemson. When I saw the
job posted, of course I was going to apply. It was really a no-brainer for me.”
Lombardi returned to Clemson in 2012 and was promoted to the director of football academics after two years. For seven years, Lombardi remained in that position until most recently being promoted to senior associate athletic director of academics.
As senior associate athletic director of academics, Lombardi is the head of academic programming and support strategies for the 550 plus student athletes. He is one of 18 full-time staff members in that department along with 150 part-time staff members who help the student athletes with their academics. Lombardi is also a member of the athletic department’s senior staff, so he is in close contact with the Dean of Undergraduate Learning, Dean Sean Brittain, which creates a strong relationship between the athletic department and academic departments.
Clemson places a big emphasis on academics as well as their athletics. It is people like Matt Lombardi who have a big impact on that, and he is the perfect guy for the job. As a former college athlete himself, Lombardi can relate to and understand the daily life of a student athlete. For his favorite aspects of his position, Lombardi said he enjoys the people he works with that make him laugh and smile every day. He also loves the rewarding feeling from seeing young men and women develop and realize their potential.
When asked what separates Clemson from other universities, Lombardi responded with:
“I truly believe no other institution does BOTH academics and athletics as well as Clemson. For the stretch of six straight years that we were in the College Football Playoff, the football program was also in the top10% nationally in Academic Progress Rate. No one else could match that. The athletic department Graduation Success Rate was tied for 2nd nationally among Power 5, public institutions last year at 95%, and this year’s number is going to be even better. We compete and win at the highest level athletically here at Clemson, and not only do we not compromise academics to do it, our expectation is to do it while maintaining the highest academic standards.”
Some things never change. No matter what time period, the great environment and community at Clemson can always be felt. Matt Lombardi was able to experience it as a student-athlete and now is part of it every day, helping student-athletes. Although he was maybe unsure what the future held, the former track star’s journey led him back home to Clemson. Lombardi jumped at the opportunity to return to Clemson in 2012 and is now thriving in his career here, and Clemson is happy to have him.
POWER BEHIND THE PAW
JOIN IPTAY TODAY AND RECEIVE YOUR 2024 CREDENTIAL PACKET TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT OF THE CLEMSON TIGERS!
BY REED KRAMER
THE IPTAY 2024 YEAR IS UNDERWAY, AND WE ARE EXCITED TO UNVEIL this year’s credential packet for priority donors. As a part of this year’s packet, all IPTAY members and IPTAY Collegiate Club members will receive two donor-specific stadium cups. We are excited about this membership benefit and hope you will pack them for the next Clemson gathering or tailgate to show your support of the Clemson Tigers! In addition to the cups, all credential packets include a membership card, decals, discount program information and a fun keepsake box to reuse in a fun way of your choice.
Check out a sneak peek of the IPTAY 2024 credential packets on this page!
We hope you will be more than a fan and join IPTAY today. Joining is easy and can be done online at ClemsonTigers.com/ IPTAY, by phone at 1-800-CLEMSON, or by stopping by the McCarter Family IPTAY Center. GO TIGERS!
Please note items pictured do not include all level examples for IPTAY 2024.
Go Tigers!
or r transfer r prospective e studentathlete
IPTAY Y or r institutional l staff f member r fundraise e for r an n NIL L entity y (e.g., , collective)?
Yes, an IPTAY or institutional staff member may assist in raising money for an NIL entity.
Henry Archuleta Associate AD- Governance and Football Compliance
Brad Woody Assistant AD- Compliance Services
Ashley Hartert Assistant AD- Compliance Services
Stephen Curley Director of Compliance Services
Liz Doherty Director of Compliance Services
What t is s the e discloser r process?
A: Clem student-athletes a summary of any proposed NIL activity via INFLCR advance of execution of an NIL agreement, and a copy of the executed NIL agreement.
To scan, open phone camera and place over this code
Hello Tigers,
AS I WRITE THIS TO ALL OF YOU ON THE WEEKEND BEFORE THANKSGIVING, I can’t help but pause, reflect, and be thankful for what we have at IPTAY and the continued excellence of our more than 550 student-athletes, coaches, staff members, and the thousands of Tiger fans that are there at every turn to support our teams.
One of the more recent examples is our football team, A team that was backed into a corner a mere month ago sitting on a 4-4 record, but has since come back swinging, or better put, come back roaring, and has now won three in a row, 2 of those wins against ranked teams.
One of those games in the Valley was Military Appreciation Day. The best words I can come up with to describe the emotions of the day – remarkable, touching, grateful. The one phrase that I heard repeatedly that day was something along the lines of “no one does Military Appreciation the way Clemson does”. I, like all of you, am clearly biased, but I firmly believe this is the case. From the amazing flyover to Blackmon Huckabee, in full football uniform singing our National Anthem incredibly, the way we honor the Veterans who have ties to the orange and purple is second to none. I’m deeply thankful for our military heritage, as well as the many members of the Clemson Family who unselfishly serve our great country today.
In one of the best Clemson stories that you really need to know, Gladys Chepngetich, a native of Kenya, and a freshman on our cross country team has been close to dominant this season – finishing within the top-3 in four meets this year. This past weekend, she was the lone Clemson qualifier at the National Championships going against the best 255 female runners in the nation. Her grit, determination, and talent enabled her to be the 24th overall runner, and top freshman, to cross the finish line. Her performance earned her the ACC Female Freshman of the Year, and All-American honors, our first All-American in women’s cross country in 7 years. Pretty remarkable Gladys, and thankful that you’re a Tiger!
Our men’s basketball team is sitting at 4-0 and is just getting warmed up for a season that is going to turn out to be pretty special – mark those words. Being down considerably in a couple of those games recently played in Asheville, the men in orange showed their Clemson Grit in rallying from behind to win. Grit is a powerful emotion and I’m excited to see the Clemson Family rally behind Coach Brownell and the boys as we see just how special this team can become.
And just a few minutes ago, I was able to watch our women’s soccer team, in dramatic fashion, advance to the Elite Eight against the Georgia Bulldogs (being a Georgia resident… thank you Lady Tigers!). If you didn’t see it, I beg you to go back and watch a video of the match. You’ll finish inspired and ready to support these ladies as they continue
a remarkable run. This season has been amazing to watch them come together. And more to come.
While it’s truly remarkable to see these types of results on the fields, courts, and tracks, you - the 22,040 members of IPTAY - support the broader successes of our student-athletes through your selfless contributions. Of course, the uniforms and equipment are funded through your donations, but so too are life-changing investments like academic scholarships, tutoring, mental health, physical recovery, nutrition, and ongoing training so that they can be positioned to represent the Paw in the best way that they can. We see the glory, but we don’t often see what it takes to achieve those successes.
As I looked around a full Memorial Stadium yesterday in our win against North Carolina, I saw every seat filled. And while the weather for that game was close to perfect, last week against Georgia Tech was a different story. Noon game, cold and rainy, yet you were there. You showed up in your orange and purple and made Death Valley, well, Death Valley. A venue where our Tigers are 68-3 over our last 71 games. You also made your presence felt at Sunday’s basketball game, as well as at our two NCAA soccer games that followed. You make the difference through your support, your donations, and your undying love of the orange and purple.
Whenever President Clements talks about the number of students who attend Clemson, he never rounds, it’s always an exact number, because every single one matters. I’ll follow his lead and say again, thank you to all 22,040 IPTAY donors who continue to make a significant difference in the lives of our student-athletes. There truly is something special in these hills, and in this season of Thanksgiving, I’m thankful to be a part of this family, and I’m thankful for all of you.
Go Tigers!
BILLY MILAM President, IPTAY Board of Directors
The IPTAY Board of Directors was recognized on the field at Memorial Stadium prior to the November 4 Clemson Football game against Notre Dame.
Saturday, November 11, 2023.
shared his talent with Clemson fans, while honoring our country and the many others who have served in the Military.
From the internet to Death Valley, Clemson Football Wide Receiver, Blackmon Huckabee Jr. is a hit. Huckabee sang the National Anthem at the Military Appreciation game on
Huckabee
PHOTO BY DAWSON POWERS
EMAIL PHOTO, CAPTION AND IPTAY NUMBER TO: KELSEY TIBBS
KTibbs@clemson.edu, or mail IPTAY, Attn: Kelsey Tibbs, P.O. Box 1529, Clemson, S.C. 29633
Bill ('71) and Jackie Reardon, Gary ('65) and Toni Faulkenberry along with Tiger fan friends Jim and Judy Page, Barry and Theresa Morrison enjoyed a 17-day travel in Ireland and Scotland this summer. Shown above in a neat restaurant set in a former bank in Dublin, Ireland.
Sadie (’23), Olivia (’21) and Henry (’26) Chafe at the original Death Valley Stadium.
Left to right: Lynda Alexander (‘05), Andrew Seymore (‘05), Kayla Wilson, and Brian “Eddie” Rodgers (‘94) Mount LJuboten (Duke) Kosovo
Amy (’81) and Jeff (’80) Robson at 12,183 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Lee Powell ('88) hiked 20 miles in Grand Canyon in May 2023 with some Greenville F3 Buddies.
Roger & Janet Greiner at Kylemore Castle in Donegal, Ireland.
Clay Addison (‘82), Nancy Addison (‘82), Mary Carter (‘84) and Joe Carter (‘82) at the foot of the Athabaska Glacier in Alberta, Canada.
Chris Worl ('18), Charlie Jager (’67), Teri Worl ('01) and daughter Emma at Meteora, Greece.
Debbie Slinkard (‘96) climbed 29,029 vertical feet and earned her red hat as a participant in 29029 Everesting in Stratton, VT.
THE LAST WORD
WHEN CLEMSON AND NOTRE DAME MEET ON THE GRIDIRON
it is my favorite game of the year. Some might not think that would be the case because I have worked at Clemson in either a full-time or part-time capacity for 45 years, but I am a “Double Domer” (undergrad degree in 1977 and master’s degree in 1978).
It is a fun game for me because I know both teams, current and historically, so well. I am at every Clemson game and tape or watch live every Notre Dame game.
When it came time for my preparation to work with Don Munson on the Clemson Radio Network, it didn’t take me long to determine this might be a tough day for the Tigers. In the end, it was one of the most remarkable victories for the Clemson program.
All the experts thought Notre Dame would win this game fairly easily, except for ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, who picked Clemson to win during his pregame predictions on ESPN College Gameday.
Here is a rundown of what Clemson had to overcome to beat Notre Dame on this sunny November 4 afternoon in Death Valley:
Clemson was without 10 starters entering the game.
That included starting offensive linemen Marcus Tate and Walker Parks. The Tigers would be starting a true freshman on the offensive line in Harris Sewell.
Additionally, the Tigers would play three true freshmen in the secondary for much of the game due to injuries at that position.
Redshirt freshman Kylon Griffin would be at one starting safety position. He had played four snaps on defense over the last five games combined. Starting defensive end Justin Mascoll and starting safety R.J. Mickens were out for at least a second straight week, as was veteran defensive back Sheridan Jones.
Clemson’s leading rusher, All-ACC running back Will Shipley was out with a concussion that he suffered the week before at NC State.
Aside from the injuries, Notre Dame started a defense that featured nine seniors or graduate students. Clemson’s offense featured one senior starter. This 2023 season is the first since 1994 that Clemson has just one senior starter on that side of the ball and an offensive coordinator in his first year with the program.
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
BY TIM BOURRET
Notre Dame had forced 18 turnovers going into the game, including 13 interceptions, good for third in the nation. The Irish secondary featured Xavier Watts, who was leading the nation in interceptions with six entering the game.
Notre Dame’s secondary also was getting Benjamin Morrison back from injury. Morrison had played the game of his life against Clemson last year when he had two interceptions, including one return for 96 yards, the longest interception return in the history of Notre Dame Stadium.
Clemson was having a season of catastrophic turnovers, so facing a team that was in the top 10 in the nation in turnover margin was not an indicator of success for Clemson.
Notre Dame was coming off of two victories, decisive wins over rival Southern California (48-20) and Pittsburgh (587). Clemson was coming off a pair of heartbreaking losses to Miami and NC State.
Notre Dame was ranked 12th in the nation entering the game. The Tigers had a 4-4 record and were unranked.
Notre Dame had the confidence to beat Clemson the year before when the Tigers were 8-0 and ranked fourth in the nation, 35-14. Notre Dame was returning all but one starter on the offensive line led by All-American Joe Alt who helped the Irish rush for 263 yards.
So, you could see there wasn’t much in Clemson’s favor entering this game. Even the talent on the Clemson local pregame show on WCCP all picked Notre Dame to win.
But, I have seen Head Coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers pull off upsets before. I thought to myself this was the most pessimistic I was before a Clemson Football game since the 2014 bowl game against Oklahoma.
But, then it also occurred to me that Clemson won that game, 40-6.
There have been times when Swinney’s culture has overcome all odds and it did on this Saturday afternoon, as the Tigers jumped out to a 24-9 halftime lead before winning 31-23.
It was the 166th victory of Swinney’s career, moving him past Frank Howard for the Clemson record. I told Swinney in the postgame interview that Coach Howard had an appreciation for history, and he wanted Swinney to break his record against college football’s most famous program.
It was a day that Dabo and I will always remember.
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