As was rumored throughout the 2024-25 season, Clemson basketball coach Brad Brownell has signed a contract extension through 2031, the school announced on Friday.
This news doesn't come as much of a surprise, especially after a record-breaking 27-7 season in which the Tigers finished in second place in the ACC standings behind only Duke and they were the only team in the conference that was able to upset the Blue Devils this season. It was a more than successful year for Clemson and Brownell.
So the extension feels much deserved but there are always going to be critics.
Sure, Brownell's Tigers lost to 12-seed McNeese in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament after winning 27 games heading into the Big Dance, but upsets do happen and he just led Clemson to the school's first Elite Eight since 1980 the year before. He's also responsible for two of the program's five Sweet 16 appearances and one-third (5) of the program's 15 NCAA Tournament appearances.
And he's done all this since 2011. It's only been 15 years and he's already elevated the program to new heights. Clemson wasn't exactly a powerhouse in college basketball before he was hired.
So is the extension a good move? I think the numbers speak for themselves. Obviously making just five NCAA Tournaments in 15 years isn't elite, by any means, but when you consider where the program was (10 all-time berths in the NCAA Tournament before 2011), it's impressive. Plus, Clemson and the Elite Eight were rarely ever mentioned in the same sentence and he got that done in 2024.
Brownell is a perfect fit at Clemson and it feels like this program is only getting better every year. And the way he has been able to maneuver this offseason with nine departures via graduation and the transfer portal has been impressive. He's already filled the roster with ready-to-go transfers.
Clemson is in good hands with Brownell and the longer he's around, the more success the program will experience. I would expect another extension in 2031.