CLEMSON, S.C. – Following Clemson’s second straight 44-win season and a super-regional appearance in 2024, Head Coach Erik Bakich received a contract extension through the 2030 season, the Board of Trustee Compensation Committee approved Thursday. The committee also approved contract extensions through the 2027 season for Assistant Head Coach Nick Schnabel and Assistant Coach Jimmy Belanger, who also completed their second season on staff at Clemson in 2024.
In two seasons as head coach at Clemson, Bakich has directed the Tigers to 88 victories, 11th most in the nation. Under Bakich, Clemson was one of only six programs to total 44+ wins in both 2023 and 2024. He led the Tigers to a regional host season in those two seasons, one of only five schools in the nation that can make that claim. His 68.2 winning percentage against ACC teams since 2023 is best among ACC members. Bakich has coached five different All-Americans in his two seasons at Clemson, including at least two All-Americans in both years.
The 2024 Tigers had a 44-16 record and finished ranked as high as No. 9 in the nation, their best finish since 2010. Clemson was ranked in the top 10 of every poll in 2024, a first for the program since 2006. The Tigers captured their first regional title since 2010 by winning the 2024 Clemson Regional and hosted the Clemson Super Regional. The program also set an attendance record with 5,060 fans per home date in 2024.
Clemson amassed a 20-10 ACC regular-season record for the second year in a row in 2024. Bakich joined former Tiger Head Coach Jack Leggett (1994,95) as the only head coaches to total 20+ ACC regular-season wins in his first two years at an ACC school. That 20-10 record gave the Tigers the 2024 ACC Atlantic Division title.
In his first season as head coach in Tigertown in 2023, Bakich led the Tigers to the league championship by winning the ACC Tournament at Durham, N.C. It was Clemson’s first ACC title since 2016 and was a big reason it earned the No. 4 national seed in the NCAA Tournament, the first time they hosted a regional since 2018 and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019.
In 15 seasons as a head coach, three at Maryland, 10 at Michigan and two at Clemson, Bakich has a 486-349-1 record, with winning seasons in each of his last 13 years. He also has led teams to the NCAA Tournament each of the last four seasons and seven of the last nine years there has been an NCAA Tournament.
Statement from Erik Bakich:
LET’S GO!!!
It is a privilege to serve this incredible university and athletic department. We are beyond grateful for the leadership and continued support from the Board of Trustees, President Jim Clements and Director of Athletics Graham Neff.
Jiffy and I love this Clemson community and that we can raise our children here. Tiger Nation…we love & appreciate you! Let’s keep Doug Kingsmore Stadium rowdy, and we can’t wait to hoist a trophy in Omaha with you!
Go Tigers!
