CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson men’s basketball coach Brad Brownell has received a new five-year, $20 million contract after leading the Tigers to the Elite Eight last season.
A panel of Clemson’s board of trustees approved Brownell’s enhanced contract, along with new agreements for men’s soccer coach Mike Noonan and baseball coach Erik Bakich, among several coaches and assistants, on Thursday.
Athletic director Graham Neff said Clemson coaches have been instrumental in helping the department compete in a wide variety of sports.
“In addition to countless accolades in the field, each of these leaders stewards programs based on integrity and academic excellence,” Neff said in a statement. “In an evolving environment, stability is critical and provides Clemson the opportunity to compete at the national level.”
Brownell, who will enter his 15th season this fall, leads the program with 265 wins. His latest contract would tie him to the school through the 2028-29 season.
He will earn $3.5 million next season, a $500,000 increase over what he was scheduled to earn under his old contract.
Brownell will receive a $250,000 raise for the final four years of the contract, giving him $4.5 million in the final year of the deal for the 2028-29 season.
Brownell thanked Clemson administrators for their continued support and was proud of his team’s recent success, especially winning 47 games over the past two seasons – a program record in that span.
“There is no better time than now to be part of the Clemson family,” he said.
The school would owe Brownell 50% of his total compensation if he were fired within the first two years of the agreement. After that, Brownell would receive 37.5% of what remains of the settlement.
Brownell has made four NCAA tournaments during his tenure, with last spring being his most successful run. The sixth-seeded Tigers defeated 11th-seeded New Mexico in the NCAA opener before ousting third-seeded Baylor and second-seeded Arizona to advance to the Elite Eight.
Finished one step back from the Final Four with an 89-82 loss to Alabama.
Brownell made $2.75 million last season, which ranked fifth among ACC coaching salaries. This year’s leader, Virginia coach Tony Bennett, received a contract extension, but it did not include a raise in his salary of just over $4 million per year.
Pitt coach Jeff Capel, who made $3.5 million this year, got a contract extension Wednesday. Financial details were not disclosed.
Noonan, who has won two of the last three NCAA College Cup championships, had two years added to his contract through the 2029 season, along with a raise for next season from $440,000 to $600,000. Noonan would receive a $17,500 pay raise each year going forward.
Bakich had the baseball team host an NCAA Super Regional for the first time since 2010. He had two years added to his contract through the 2030 season. He will receive a $325,000 raise next season for a salary of US$ 1.275 million.
Bakich would receive $50,000 raises every season going forward. He will also receive a $200,000 retention bonus if he remains with the Tigers on September 1 and in September 2027 and September 2029.
Women’s soccer coach Eddie Radwanski and women’s golf coach Kelley Hester received contract extensions. Radwanski has three more years in the 2028 season, while Hester has two more years in the 2029 season.
