The Lady Tigers Basketball program welcomes Shawn Poppie as its newest head coach, announced by Athletic Director Graham Neff. Poppie, honored as the Maggie Dixon 2023 Rookie Coach of the Year, assumes leadership as the seventh head coach of the Lady Tigers. Neff expressed confidence in Poppie’s coaching and recruiting prowess, citing his track record and experience in the ACC and the upstate region. Former Clemson basketball player and current ACC network analyst Kelly Gramlich echoed Neff’s sentiments, calling it a “phenomenal move.” Poppie’s contract, valued at $3.375 million spanning from 2024 to the 2029-2030 season, includes bonuses for tournament successes and a signing bonus of $435,000.
Prior to his tenure at Clemson, Poppie spent six seasons at Virginia Tech, contributing significantly to the team’s success and guiding them to their first NCAA tournament appearance in fifteen years. He then achieved back-to-back Southern Conference titles in two seasons at UT-Chattanooga, amassing a remarkable record of 48-18, with his best season yielding a 28-5 record. Poppie’s coaching journey began at his alma mater, Limestone University, where he also excelled as a basketball player, leading in assists and steals and earning a spot in the Hall of Fame. His coaching experience extends to Furman and USC-Upstate, positioning him well for recruiting efforts in the area.
Facing the challenge ahead, Clemson’s Women’s Basketball program seeks to reverse its prolonged postseason absence and conference struggles under Poppie’s leadership. With the team’s last Sweet 16 appearance a quarter-century ago and only one NCAA tournament appearance in the past 22 years, Clemson looks to Poppie to rejuvenate the program and elevate its performance.
