From the Desk of Dan Radakovich – June 6, 2016

June 6, 2016

What A Time to Be a Tiger! … Last weekend, 25,000 fans made their way to Doug Kingsmore Stadium for our ACC Baseball Champion team’s first hosted regional in five years. While we all wish the outcome was different, we remain proud of everything this team accomplished in Coach Monte Lee’s first season.

The Clemson Regional marked the final home contest of a great 2015-16 sports year, and we’ll officially close out the calendar as track competes at the NCAA National Championships next weekend.

There were so many great victories and tremendous successes during the past year, it’s hard to highlight just a few. From fall moments including football’s berth in the College Football Playoff National Championship and men’s soccer returning to the College Cup Final, women’s soccer advancing to the NCAA Tournament to men’s golf’s outstanding season and women’s golf earning its second NCAA bid in its third season. And baseball closed out a remarkable May run with an ACC Championship and regional host spot.

In the classroom, 54 student-athletes earned degrees in May, joining 24 who walked across the stage in December. While competing for national titles, both football and men’s soccer recorded record GPAs this fall and spring, and our Graduation Success Rate and Academic Progress Rate continue to be among the nation’s best. Football, men’s basketball and women’s golf were recognized among the top 10 percent nationally in APR, with football earning the distinction for the sixth-consecutive year.

With the successes on and off the field, IPTAY continues to provide the support each of our programs needs to reach even greater heights. As they work to finish strong before the close of the year on June 30, we’re expecting record fundraising numbers for both the annual fund and major gifts.

LOOKING AHEAD

As we turn the calendar to 2016-17, our athletic department continues to make preparations to build upon the successes of the past year. On the facilities front, we’ll open the new Littlejohn Coliseum in the fall and our new football operations complex early in 2017. The relocated soccer practice fields are looking great, and renovations to the tennis facility continue to receive approvals.

We continue to work with student leadership on improved ticketing processes for football games, and announced last week that in 2016 we will continue to provide tickets at no cost to our student population.

THANK YOU

All of our successes, both in 2015-16 and those anticipated in 2016-17 are rooted in the tremendous resources each of you provide our department through your support of IPTAY. Thank you for all you do for our Clemson Family, and I look forward to seeing you on campus in the fall.

Go Tigers,

Dan Radakovich