Tim Bourret: Clemson’s Storied Voice Enters the Athletic Hall of Fame
On November 8, 2025, during halftime of Clemson’s home football game against Florida State, the university will induct its 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame class. Among the honorees—alongside stars like DeAndre Hopkins and Chester McGlockton—stands Tim Bourret, the longtime Sports Information Director whose 40-year tenure shaped how the world saw Clemson athletics.
Though not a player or coach, Bourret’s induction recognizes a career of unparalleled dedication, turning statistics into stories and moments into legacies.
From Notre Dame to Death Valley:
A Fateful 1977 TripTim Bourret’s Clemson story began as an opponent. In November 1977, as a graduate assistant in Notre Dame’s sports information office under Hall of Famer Roger Valdiserri, Bourret traveled with the Fighting Irish to Memorial Stadium. Notre Dame, led by Joe Montana, edged Clemson 21-17 in a thriller featuring 38 future NFL players, including Clemson’s Steve Fuller and Dwight Clark. What struck Bourret most wasn’t the game—it was the atmosphere. “When our buses pulled up, the grass hill… was packed,” he recalled. “There must have been 10,000 people standing on it.”
Less than a year later, after earning his master’s in communication arts from Notre Dame (following a 1977 business administration degree), Bourret joined Clemson as assistant SID under legendary Bob Bradley on September 1, 1978. He beat out stiffer competition from Kansas State for the role, drawn by the passion he’d witnessed. “Clemson offered it to me,” he said simply.
What started as a job became a lifelong calling.
Four Decades as Clemson’s Encyclopedia
Bourret spent 40 years in Clemson’s sports information office: assistant director (1978-89), then director (1989-2018). Nicknamed “Clemson Google” for his encyclopedic recall, he oversaw media relations during eras of transformation—from Danny Ford’s 1981 national title to Dabo Swinney’s 2016 and 2018 championships.
His office earned the Football Writers Association’s “Super 11” award five times (2009, 2010, 2015-17), recognizing top football media operations. Bourret edited over 100 award-winning publications, authored books like The Vault: Clemson Football and 2016 National Champions, and served as color commentator for Clemson basketball radio since 1979-80 (over 1,000 games) and football (1982-88).
As chairman of the Clemson Ring of Honor Committee since 1994, he helped enshrine legends like Danny Ford and Levon Kirkland. In 2007, Clemson named him an honorary alumnus.
Passion for Golf: From SID to NBC Statistician
Bourret’s love for golf ran deep. He handled media for Clemson’s men’s golf program for 39 years, building close ties with coach Larry Penley. Post-retirement in 2018, he joined NBC/Golf Channel as a statistician for Peter Jacobsen, feeding data during majors like The Open, Ryder Cup, and FedEx Cup events. “Bourret loves golf, and now he’s getting paid to attend the game’s biggest events,” noted one profile. He continues part-time with Clemson basketball broadcasts and program writing, blending his passions seamlessly.
Accolades and Peer Praise: A Hall of Fame Legacy Bourret’s honors stack high:
- CoSIDA (now College Sports Communicators) Hall of Fame (2017)—third Clemson SID so honored, joining mentors Joe Sherman and Bob Bradley
- CoSIDA Lifetime Achievement Award (2019)
- South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame Bobby Richardson Award (2018)
Peers rave: Dabo Swinney: “There has truly been nobody better at what he does than Tim Bourret.”Furman SID Hunter Reid called him “Mount Rushmore” material. Another: “Tim Bourret is a legend… His dedication and impact on Clemson Athletics can’t be overstated.”
The Bottom Line: A True Tiger Though he arrived from Notre Dame in 1977 rooting against Clemson, Tim Bourret became its greatest advocate. His 2025 Hall of Fame induction—honored alongside players he chronicled—cements a career that didn’t just document history but helped build it. As Bourret reflected on his start: “Little did I know that I would start a 40-year career here.” Clemson fans know: We’re the lucky ones.
