In the midst of a historic spring season, the Clemson men’s soccer team carried its success from the field into the classroom throughout the 2021 Spring Semester.
The Tigers collectively earned a 3.38 GPA this past spring, making it tied for the third-best GPA ever earned by the program, and just the sixth time in head coach Mike Noonan’s 23-semester tenure at Clemson that the team has collectively earned a 3.30 or better. Men’s soccer’s GPA was the third-best of any team at Clemson during the spring, while also serving as the best GPA earned by a male sport’s program. As a whole, Clemson Athletics produced a department-wide GPA of 3.15 for the 2021 Spring Semester.
“To say I am proud of these young men is an understatement,” said Lindsey Ricketts, men’s soccer’s academic advisor. “Nothing about this semester was normal or easy. We had the entire team in online classes, virtual tutoring and weekly zoom meetings due to COVID protocols. They handled these circumstances like the champions they are and adapted. This team is the perfect example of when you handle your business off the field, on the field success follows. I’d like to thank the coaches for their support and for creating a team culture that emphasizes education.”
Clemson men’s soccer has earned a GPA of at least 3.00 in 18 of the 23 semesters in which Noonan has led the program, including a current streak of 14 consecutive semesters above 3.00. The team’s success was fueled by ten Tigers earning a perfect 4.00 GPA. Three-quarters of the team’s roster received honor roll distinction or better following the semester’s conclusion, with seven players notably being named to the Dean’s List.
George Marks became the first Tiger in program history to earn CoSIDA Academic All-District honors multiple times in their career following the association’s announcement on June 3.
Jake Barron served as the program’s lone graduate during Clemson’s May commencement ceremonies. Barron, a native of Orlando, Fla., earned his degree in Political Science and has collected ACC Academic Honor Roll honors during his first two years in Tigertown. Oguchi Onyewu, a 2020 Fall Semester graduate, was able to walk at graduation this May with his family in attendance. Onyewu, one of the greatest players in U.S. Men’s Soccer history, is a graduate of Clemson thanks to the Tiger Trust Program.
