CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson University Director of Athletics Graham Neff announced a restructuring of the athletic department’s leadership team designed to position Clemson for the future of collegiate athletics. The reconfiguration follows the recent departure of former Deputy Athletics Director Kevin White, who was named Director of Athletics at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Lisa Knox will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer and Senior Deputy Athletics Director, while Natalie Honnen, Eric Sabin and Amanda Richardson will serve as Deputy Athletics Directors overseeing their respective areas.
Knox has spent 16 years at Clemson, most recently serving as Vice President of the Office of Institutional Excellence, where she led the execution of the Clemson Elevate strategic plan, advancing priorities in Operational Excellence, Enterprise Risk Management, and Wellbeing.
Her appointment follows two years where she has served in a dual capacity as the deputy athletics director/chief of staff. Knox will serve as the athletic department’s second-in-command and principal strategic partner to the Athletics Director. As COO, she will provide enterprise-wide leadership, coordinate with IPTAY and Clemson Ventures, and translate the Athletics Director’s strategic vision into operational execution. Knox will also oversee the department’s Strategic Communications and Publicity unit and Administrative Services as well as serve as the sport administrator for the Football program.
A four-year letterwinner and three-time captain on the Georgia Tech women’s swimming team, Knox earned a bachelor’s degree in management from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Clemson.
Honnen, Deputy Athletics Director for Competitive Excellence and Clemson’s Senior Woman Administrator, will oversee a comprehensive unit encompassing Academic Services, Student-Athlete Development, Sports Performance, Sports Medicine, Mental Health, Nutrition, and Student-Athlete Conduct. Many of these programs are housed in the recently opened $50 million Watt Family Performance and Wellness Center, which debuted in early 2025.
Honnen will also coordinate with the ACC on several conference-wide initiatives. She serves as the sport administrator for the Gymnastics, Softball and Volleyball programs and is the Chair of the 2026 NCAA Division I Softball Oversight Committee.
Sabin has been named Deputy Athletics Director for Finance and Operations after overseeing more than $250 million in capital projects since 2019, including major renovations to Memorial Stadium and the Women’s Sports Expansion project. Sabin will continue to oversee Capital Projects teams while also continuing to lead the department’s business and finance unit since 2023.
Sabin will also manage the areas of equipment, facilities, grounds, maintenance, game operations, ticketing operations, and aviation operations while serving as the sport administrator for the men’s and women’s golf programs.
Richardson has assumed the role of Deputy Athletics Director for Internal Affairs, leading Clemson’s Front Office, which is responsible for the implementation of the House settlement, including revenue sharing and expanded scholarship opportunities. She will continue to work closely with the department’s compliance office, for which she led day-to-day operations for the past eight years.
In addition, Richardson will oversee Name, Image and Likeness governance and Title IX compliance. She also serves as the sport administrator for the Rowing program.
