Brad Brownell didn’t need a microphone to make his message clear — Clemson isn’t just a place where he works. It’s home.
Speaking at the ACC Tipoff, the veteran Clemson men’s basketball coach leaned into the program’s deep roots and family-first culture that mirror what Dabo Swinney built on the football side.
“Clemson is a special place,” Brownell said. “It’s something we talk about — it’s in these hills. There’s something in these hills. It’s more of a feeling. You just have to come see the place, spend time.”
Brownell has quietly built Clemson basketball into one of the ACC’s most consistent programs. With NCAA Tournament runs and a growing national profile, the Tigers’ success, he says, is no accident — it’s the result of shared values and an unshakable belief in what the university stands for.
“I sent my two daughters to Clemson. We’re all-in. We love it,” Brownell added. “It’s because of what Clemson stands for — excellence. You see it across the entire university.”
That excellence, he emphasized, extends far beyond the hardwood. Under university president Jim Clements and athletic director Graham Neff, Clemson athletics has flourished — and the success of other programs only pushes his team harder.
“It motivates you,” Brownell said. “You want to do the same with your program. It’s such a close-knit family atmosphere. We spend a great deal of time together. We encourage our student-athletes to get to know other students and athletes.”
For Brownell, Clemson’s uniqueness lies in connection — between players, coaches, fans, and the broader community. It’s a philosophy that continues to shape his program’s identity and fuels the Tigers’ pursuit of another March run.
“It’s a truly special place,” he said. “And I’m humbled to be the coach there.”