Clemson Approves Updated Contracts for Head Coaches
CLEMSON, S.C. – Head Coaches Brad Brownell, Mike Noonan, Eddie Radwanski, Erik Bakich and Kelley Hester agreed to new contracts with Clemson University in a move that was approved by the Board of Trustees Compensation Committee. Brownell, Noonan, Radwanski and Hester each led their programs to Elite Eights or better, the first time four Clemson sports advanced that far in the NCAA Tournament since 1979-80.
“Some of the keys to our historic broad-based success in recent years is leadership and alignment, and these coaches embody those values,” said Director of Athletics Graham Neff. “In addition to countless accolades on the field, each of these leaders run programs built upon integrity and academic excellence. In an evolving environment, stability is critical, and provides Clemson the opportunity to compete nationally.”
Clemson has seen exceptional broad-based success recently with records in academics and athletics. In 2022-23, Clemson won four ACC Championships in a single year for the first time since 1998-99, and in 2023-24 advanced to four Elite Eights in the same year for the first time since 1979-80. Clemson has also seen record fundraising and launched two new women’s sports, lacrosse and gymnastics.
This past season, Noonan led his Men’s Soccer club to an ACC Championship and its second National Championship in three years, while Radwanski took the Women’s Soccer program to its first College Cup.
Brownell and the Men’s Basketball program upended New Mexico, Baylor and Arizona en route to the Elite Eight, the first for the program since 1979-80. The Tigers have won 47 games over the last two seasons, the second-most in program history, while also posting a .625 (25-15) win percentage in the ACC over that same time period. That is the highest in consecutive seasons in program history. Since 2017-18, the Tigers are fourth in the ACC in wins (141) and fifth in league wins (72).
Hester’s golf team, one season removed from its first ACC Championship, again advanced to the ACC finals and followed that with an appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals in match play, the first time a Clemson golf program has accomplished the feat in the format.
Bakich’s team, the No. 6 national seed, won Clemson’s first Regional Championship since 2010.
Baseball assistant Coaches Nick Schnabel and Jimmy Belanger, and basketball assistants Dick Bender, Sean Dixon and Billy Donlon also received new contracts.
Head Coach Bios (alphabetical):
Erik Bakich is entering his third season as Head Baseball Coach, where he has directed Clemson to 88 wins, 11th most in the nation in the last two years. His program has hosted an NCAA Regional in both 2023 and 2024, one of only five schools in the nation that can make the claim, and he led the Tigers to their first Regional Championship since 2010 in 2024 after winning the ACC Championship in 2023. Clemson’s 68.2 winning percentage against ACC teams since 2023 is the best among ACC members.
Brad Brownell enters his 15th season in charge of the Clemson men’s basketball program in 2024-25. The program’s winningest coach has taken the Tigers to the 2024 Elite Eight, 2021 NCAA Tournament, 2018 Sweet 16, 2011 NCAA Tournament and three NIT appearances. He is No. 1 in Clemson coaching history in terms of winning percentage against ACC competition and his 128 regular season wins over ACC teams are the most in program history. Clemson most recently reached the Elite Eight for just the second time in history and the first time in 44 years and also won at No. 3 North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
Kelley Hester is entering her ninth season leading the women’s golf program. The Tigers reached match play of the NCAA National Tournament and finished fifth in the nation and finished runner-up at the ACC Championship after claiming the program’s first title in 2023. In addition to a perfect attendance record in the NCAA Tournament, Hester has led the program to its first five tournament victories, had 37 top-five finishes and reached the NCAA national tournament three times (an active streak), the first three national appearances in Clemson history.
Mike Noonan is entering his 15th season at Clemson. He has led the Tigers to two National Championships (2021, 2023), five NCAA quarterfinals, three ACC Championships, coached two MAC Hermann Award winners and two No. 1 overall MLS draft picks. Noonan is one of three Clemson coaches with multiple national championships, joining Dabo Swinney (2016, 2018) and Dr. I.M. Ibrahim (1984, 1987).
Eddie Radwanski is entering his 14th season leading the Women’s Soccer program and has taken the program to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past ten seasons, including its first College Cup appearance in 2023. The program finished the season ranked 3rd in the nation with an 18-4-4 overall mark and four Tigers were drafted into the NWSL. Radwanski’s 143 overall and 61 ACC wins are the most in Clemson history.
