What to know about Graham Neff, Clemson’s acting athletic director
After spending nine years with Clemson as the athletic director, Dan Radakovich has left to take the same position with Miami, it was officially announced Thursday. As a result, deputy athletic director Graham Neff will serve as the interim AD, Clemson president Jim Clements said via a released statement.
There was no immediate word how quickly Clemson would make a permanent hire for the position.
“Graham has been with Clemson for eight years as a trusted advisor to Dan, and I am confident in his leadership,” Clements said.
Here are five things to know about the Georgia native:
Connection with Radakovich
Dan Radakovich gave Neff, 37, his first job in athletics when Radakovich was the athletic director at Georgia Tech, where the former spent six years (2006-12). In 2013, he came to Clemson as the associate AD of business operations and CFO before becoming the deputy athletic director a year later. The role allows him to work closely with Radakovich on short- and long-term planning and execution, which includes overseeing more than $200 million in capital projects.
Neff is also the sport supervisor for the football and men’s basketball programs while working with key stakeholders, several university committees and appointments.
Two-time ACC alum
Neff graduated from Georgia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 2006. While there, he was a manager for the men’s basketball team, which went to the Final Four in 2004. He then earned his MBA in finance from Georgia Tech in 2010.
Young and accomplished
In 2019, Neff was named one of Sports Business Journal’s Power Players. It’s a series that began in 2018 dedicated to recognizing the “leaders in design and development.”
“On any given day, Neff might find himself working on a facility project, a personnel matter, department finances or fundraising across any of the Tigers’ sports,” the article stated.
Knowledge is power
In an interview from 2020, Neff said he’s a big-time reader, adding that the book “How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge” by Clay Scroggins helped him “develop a really good mindset.”
“It has good elements in it and I love the notion of it,” he said.
According to an Amazon synopsis, the book describes the four basic behaviors all great leaders have and how to cultivate them as well as the challenges that come with leadership.
Family man
Neff and wife, Kristin, have three children together.
They have a toddler, Grady, and twins, Emmett and Nolan, who were born in 2019.
This story was originally published December 9, 2021 at 11:36 AM.
