The End of an Era

Clemson Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips Announces Retirement 

News broke early this week that Clemson AD Terry Don Phillips would announce his retirement this week and today that news became official. Phillips' contract is set to end in June of 2013 and he made it clear earlier this year that he was not pushing for an extension. At the press conference today Phillips said "the time was right" to step down and he will officially be retired next June, though he is ready to step aside as soon as his replacement is named. He noted that the urge to spend more time with his family was a driving force in the decision. "I'm very blessed to have a wonderful wife." Said TDP. "But it is important that we spend more time together." We also learned that had it not been for Barker, Phillips may have left before now. Barker encouraged TDP to stay longer and he did, but now seemed to be the time to call it quits. "I've had some health issues in the past. There was some complications, but I feel good right now. This is probably the best I've felt in a long time." Barker had known for about six months that this decision was coming. He thanked Terry Don and his wife for their hard work and dedication to Clemson University over the past 10 years.

People have mixed feelings about Terry Don, but you have to be out of your mind to think he didn't do a great job at Clemson. Nobody is perfect of course and some more night games (which wasn't 100% in his hands) would have been nice but other than that he was a great AD. To me, that is saying something. For that to be the only negative thing I can say about him, he must have done a great job. Though the trophy case isn't packed, Phillips has laid the foundation for the coming years to be great. Like former South Carolina and current Texas A&M AD Eric Hyman, the groundwork for success is in place and it will be up to the next guy to take the program to the next level and beyond. Under Phillips, the West End Zone project came to life, additions to Doug Kingsmore Stadium, construction is underway for the new indoor football facility, a 2003 Golf National Championship, 2011 ACC Football Championship, and the hires of Oliver Purnell, Brad Brownell, and Dabo Swinney were all milestones met on Terry Don Phillips' watch. I'm grateful to have had him serve Clemson the past decade and wish him a very happy retirement.

Now the search officially begins for his replacement. I suspect that a list of candidates is already on Barker's desk as he has known about this for a few months now. It will be interesting to see if they go for a national search or stay in house, like South Carolina did, with the Ray Tanner hire. I'm sure in the coming weeks, names will begin to surface for candidates to take over the Athletic Department.



West End Zone



























Additions to Doug Kingsmore Stadium

New Indoor Football Practice Facility