Former Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips dies. School mourns loss

Former Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips has died.

Tigers football coach Dabo Swinney announced during a news conference that Phillips passed away Tuesday morning. Phillips had been in poor health in recent months, Swinney said.

“Today is a sad day. ... But I’m glad he’s no longer in pain,” Swinney said, adding that Phillips was “one of the greatest mentors of my life.”

Phillips served as Clemson’s athletic director from 2002 to 2012 before retiring. He also worked as the AD at Oklahoma State and held administrative roles at Liberty, Southwestern Louisiana and Arkansas.

Phillips is known for his notable coaching hires. He chose Swinney as Clemson football’s interim coach after firing Tommy Bowden in 2008 and chose Swinney as the team’s full-time coach as well. He also hired current Clemson men’s basketball coach Brad Brownell and men’s soccer coach Mike Noonan.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Chapel Fowler

The State

Chapel Fowler, the NSMA’s 2024 South Carolina Sportswriter of the Year, has covered Clemson football and other topics for The State since summer 2022. His work’s also been honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors, the South Carolina Press Association and the North Carolina Press Association. He’s a Denver, N.C., native, a UNC-Chapel Hill alum and a pickup basketball enthusiast. Support my work with a digital subscription