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Brad Brownell, the winningest coach in Clemson basketball history, is entering his 16th season with the Tigers. While rumors of a possible move to Indiana swirled in the offseason, the Evansville native made a clear and heartfelt decision. He chose to stay with the program he has built for over a decade.
The 56-year-old veteran tactician recently signed a new six-year contract extension that includes a unique clause. The deal allows him to eventually step down and take on a role as special assistant to the athletic director when he decides to hang up the clipboard.
This clause, according to Brownell, was one of the key reasons he turned down the Indiana job.
“It’s something we talked about when the Indiana thing was going on,” Brownell said. “That was something that I knew Clemson could offer me that another school could not.”
Brownell has led the Tigers through a remarkable resurgence in recent years. Clemson has gone 51–19 over the past two seasons and made two straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Their Elite Eight run in 2024 marked a high point for the program and a personal milestone for the coach.
Still, the Indiana offer was not something he took lightly. Brownell grew up in Indiana, beginning his coaching career there. But in the end, he followed what felt right.
“I’m really proud of the program we have here,” he said. “I plan on coaching for several years. I’m not saying this because I’m thinking that I’m gonna stop coaching. I could coach 10, 12, 15 more years if I still feel good about it.”
Brownell explained that the clause is not a signal that he is planning his exit. Rather, it gives him the comfort of knowing that whenever he decides to transition out of coaching, he can still contribute meaningfully to the university.
“If something happens and I decide not to coach anymore, I’d love an opportunity to still be a part of the university,” he said. “And I think I can bring value in other ways.”
His decision was shaped not just by career goals, but by personal ones too. Brownell and his family have spent the last 15 years in Clemson. That kind of connection goes far beyond basketball.
“It was one of those things where my daughters are in Greenville and I’ve been here 15 years,” Brownell shared. “This kind of becomes your program, you know. You feel like ‘hey, I want to take this as far as I feel comfortable taking it and continue to grow and get better'.”
He added that the thought of leaving simply did not sit right with him or his family.
“This is where me and my wife and everybody are gonna want to be,” he said. “And so to leave here to do something else doesn’t seem like the right decision. I’m very grateful to Clemson for giving me the opportunity to coach here for as long as they have.”
Brownell’s coaching journey began in 1992 as an assistant at Evansville. From there, he spent time at Indianapolis, UNC Wilmington, and Wright State before taking over at Clemson in 2010. Over the years, he has guided the Tigers to five NCAA Tournaments and established them as a consistent contender in the ACC.
His new contract extension runs through the 2030–31 season and includes the option to serve in an advisory role for up to four years after he retires from coaching.
That clause might seem like a technical detail on paper, but for Brownell, it means security, continuity, and a deeper connection to the Clemson community.
“This was a decision I was making to stay here because this is probably where I’m going to finish my career,” he said. “There are things I still want to try and accomplish here. And I just feel like in some way I can still help.”
With Brownell committed to Clemson and the program trending upward, the Tigers are poised to build on their recent success. The coach may have turned down Indiana, but he embraced something more powerful in return—legacy, loyalty, and the chance to finish what he started.
