Lisa Knox assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer and Senior Deputy Athletics Director in March 2026.
Knox has been at Clemson since 2010, and has been in a dual role in Athletics and the University, 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.
Knox joined the Athletic Department initially in April 2024 as the deputy athletics director/chief of staff while also working as as the Executive Director and later VP of Institutional Excellence. 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 Business Administration from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Clemson.