Oct. 17, 2007
Clemson, SC – Clemson University Athletic Director Dr. Terry Don Phillips has been named one of the 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America, the Institute for International Sport announced Wednesday. Phillips is one of just four Division I athletic directors on the list, joining Mark Murphy of Northwestern, Terry Holland of East Carolina and Gary Walters of Princeton.
The Institute’s top 100 list also includes PGA Tour player Tiger Woods, former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt, former NBA World Champion player and coach Bill Russell, former Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr, current Penn State Head Football Coach Joe Paterno, current Duke and United States Olympic basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, current Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson and NBC Sports Broadcaster Bob Costas.
The list is the result of a three-year project by the Institute aimed at honoring sports educators who have, “made a lasting impact on the lives of young athletes, and who are providing a blueprint to other sports educators to do likewise.” The core criteria used for selection was the effective use of sport as a means to educate.
“In America and in many other countries, we honor elite athletes, winning coaches, wealthy team owners and media moguls. We praise sports educators yet we really do not honor them in a manner befitting their admirable impact on society,” Institute Executive Director Dan Doyle said. “This project is aimed at honoring individuals and organizations who have creatively and effectively used sport in the very best way — as a means to educate and shape positive values.”
From the time the Institute announced the project in 2004, the organization received over 1,500 nominations for individuals and “teams”. After reducing the list to 200 individual finalists and 30 “team” finalists, the Institute appointed a final selection committee made up of coaches, athletic administrators, journalists and academicians. David Bloss, former Sports Editor of the Providence Journal, chaired the committee.
Phillips is in his sixth year at Clemson as director of athletics. In June of 2006 he was recognized nationally by the National Association of College Directors of Athletics as Athletic Director of the Year for the Southeast Region at the Division I-A level.
He has made great strides at Clemson in terms of facilities, including the Westzone project at Clemson Memorial Stadium. The overall sports program had its highest ranking in the Sears Directors Cup in five years in 2007. Academically, Clemson’s 15 sports programs had an all-time record 2.93 grade point average in 2006-07.
Phillips also had a successful career as Athletic Director at Oklahoma State from 1994-2002. He was a senior associate athletic director at Arkansas, his alma mater, from 1988-94 and also has experience in athletic administration at the University of Florida, Missouri, Liberty, and Louisiana-Lafayette.
He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas, a masters degree from Virginia Tech, a doctorate degree from Virginia Tech and earned a law degree from the Arkansas School of Law. He is a member of the Arkansas Bar, The American Bar Association and the Sports Lawyers Association.
In addition to his duties as Clemson Athletic Director, Phillips has served with the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee and works with the NCAA certification program.
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