Natalie Honnen

Natalie Honnen is in her eighth year at Clemson, joining the Tigers in August of 2014. Honnen is in her 5th year overseeing Student-Athlete Services and Performance, where she oversees Olympic Sports Strength & Conditioning, Olympic Sports Nutrition, Mental Health and Sport Psychology.

Since 2017, her focus is to integrate the performance areas that better support Clemson’s student-athletes and athletic programs. Along with the performance areas, she oversees student conduct, personal responsibility, and supervises the softball and men’s and women’s golf programs.

Honnen was instrumental in the planning and ultimate execution of the addition of the Softball program, contributing in all aspects, from hiring the coach to building the facility. She also helped oversee game operations once the program officially launched in Feb. 2020.

“I pride myself on having a pulse of the student-athlete experience,” Honnen said. “It’s really important to me to be able to support student-athletes and staff in all aspects, focusing off the field. We take a holistic approach to student-athlete wellness, and I have been extremely fortunate to be able to help shape these initiatives at Clemson.”

Her regular responsibilities across campus include partnerships with Student Affairs, which includes regular communication with the Office of Community and Ethical Standards, the Title IX office and the Emergency Operation Committee.

Honnen has also served as Senior Woman Administrator for three years at Clemson, where she oversaw all operations of 14 sports, before transitioning to the present role, which includes departmental initiatives as well as sport oversight.

Previous to Clemson, Honnen oversaw football, men’s lacrosse and men’s and women’s fencing programs, while coordinating the internal operations of 35 varsity programs including scheduling, game management, budgeting and team travel at Yale University. She was also a member of senior staff and the Ivy League scheduling committee. She came to Yale as an Assistant Athletic Director in 2008 before being promoted to Associate Athletic Director in 2011.

Prior to her tenure in the Ivy League, Honnen worked at the University of Florida as coordinator of operations and facilities. She worked primarily with football and tennis operations, organized football travel and assisted with hosting conference and NCAA Championships. She also served as an adjunct lecturer in the College of Health and Human Performance during the 2006-07 academic year.

Honnen earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Florida in 2003 and was awarded a Master of Science in Sport Management in 2005. She is also a graduate of NACWAA/HERS in 2007 and the Sport Management Institute in 2012.

The former Natalie Gonzalez is married to Chris Honnen, and the couple have two daughters, Maddie and Nora.