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Terry Don Phillips, Former Clemson Athletic Director, Dies
He was credited with hiring Dabo Swinney and guiding Clemson to 13 ACC championships across eight sports.
Former Clemson Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips died early Tuesday morning at age 78 in Clemson, South Carolina, after spending years in hospice care following a dementia diagnosis over a decade ago.
Phillips served 10 years as Clemson's athletic director from 2002 to 2012, becoming one of the most influential figures behind the Tigers' rise into a national powerhouse across multiple sports.
Under Phillips' leadership, Clemson athletic programs recorded 57 top-25 national finishes, 37 top-20s, and 14 top-10s, while the Tigers won 13 ACC championships across eight sports including five women's programs.
Phillips' most enduring legacy centers on hiring Dabo Swinney as football coach, alongside men's basketball coach Brad Brownell, men's soccer coach Mike Noonan and women's soccer coach Eddie Radwanski.
Swinney recalled last year at ACC media days how Phillips backed him during a difficult 6-6 season, saying 'I want you to keep doing what you're doing. I want you to know that I've got your back,' before building a 187-53 record and winning national championships in 2016 and 2018.