Report: Clemson A.D. Terry Don Phillips close to retiring

CLEMSON — Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips will soon announce his retirement, according to the TigerIllustrated.com website.

An announcement could happen within days.

The news comes after Phillips recently indicated he would not seek an extension beyond the end of his contract next June.

The report indicates that once Phillips makes his plans public a search for his successor will begin with the possibility that he could leave his role well ahead of his contract's expiration.

Phillips took over Clemson's athletic department in June of 2002 following a stint at Oklahoma State.

In his time as athletic director, Clemson has committed to $140 million in new facilties across the board; the department is currently in the midst of a $50 million fundraising drive. A $10 million football indoor practice facility is expected to open in December, and the football program also just opened a new team dining center inside Memorial Stadium’s WestZone. With one $15 million phase left, Clemson has committed $65 million to the WestZone, which includes sparking new luxury suites, locker rooms, coaches’ offices and meeting rooms.

Phillips elevated Dabo Swinney from wide receivers coach to head coach in 2008; last fall, Clemson won the program’s first ACC title in 20 years. He also hired men’s basketball coach Oliver Purnell, who took Clemson to three consecutive NCAA berths before bolting for DePaul in 2010. His replacement, Brad Brownell, won the program’s first NCAA game since 1997 in his first season as head coach.