Contract details for Shawn Poppie’s newest raise, extension with Clemson
Shawn Poppie is putting Clemson women’s basketball back in the conversation.
On Friday, the school rewarded him for that success with a proactive, mid-year contract extension intended to keep him with the Tigers long term.
The Clemson University Board of Trustees compensation committee unanimously approved a raise and extension for Poppie at its quarterly meeting Friday.
Poppie was previously making $525,000 in base salary in 2025-26 under a six-year contract signed in April 2024. His new contract increases his base salary to $800,000 starting on March 1 and keeps him under contract at Clemson through 2031.
The $800,000 salary is a 52% raise from Poppie’s previous total base salary, excluding bonuses. He will also make $800,000 in 2026-27. His annual compensation will then rise by $25,000 annually, topping out at $900,000 in 2030-31.
The total value of Poppie’s new deal is roughly $4.25 million over five years.
“The energy and momentum within the program is palpable, and our community feels that with how he’s run the program on the court and off,” athletic director Graham Neff said while presenting Poppie’s contract to the Clemson board of trustees Friday. “... A lot of excitement for the trajectory of this program ahead.”
Poppie, 40, has made an immediate impact as Clemson’s women’s basketball coach since Neff hired him away from Chattanooga to replace Amanda Butler. The Tigers are currently 16-8 and 7-5 in the ACC (tied for No. 8 among 18 teams) and have a good shot at making their second NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002.
Clemson has already surpassed its ACC win total from last year (six).
Poppie also signed Clemson’s highest-ranked modern-era recruit, five-star guard/forward Trinity Jones, in the 2026 class last fall. Clemson’s five-player Class of 2026, which ranks No. 4 in 247Sports’ rankings and No. 6 by ESPN, is also the program’s highest-ranked recruiting class in the modern era (since 2008).
“I’m incredibly grateful to Clemson University and Graham Neff for their commitment to me, my staff and our entire Clemson women’s basketball program,” Poppie said in a prepared statement Friday. “We’re thrilled to continue building something special here.”
New football strength coach gets raise
Clemson on Friday also approved a new contract for Dennis Love, who succeeded Joey Batson as Clemson football’s lead strength and conditioning coach after the 2025 season. Batson retired after working in the role for 29 years.
Love’s total salary will rise 80% from $250,000 to $450,000. His new contract is for two years and runs through 2028. Love’s promotion has been in the works since Batson in May announced the 2025 season would be his last with Clemson .
Love has already been conducting winter workouts with the 2026 team. He worked at Clemson from 2004-14 before getting outside experience with the NFL’s Denver Broncos as well as Purdue (Big Ten) and Auburn (SEC).
“His rapport and camaraderie with student-athletes is significant and phenomenal,” Neff said of Love. “His transition will be incredibly smooth and bring a different energy level to our strength room and Coach (Dabo) Swinney.”
This story was originally published February 6, 2026 at 9:00 AM.
