Report: Clemson expected to add Northwestern deputy AD Kevin White

The Clemson Tigers have reportedly found a new deputy athletics director to join AD Graham Neff. Kevin White, deputy AD and COO at Northwestern University, will join the athletics staff, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. It’s a big next step for White after stops at Northwestern, Southern Methodist and Georgia State.

Kevin White joined Northwestern as Deputy Director of Athletics & Chief Financial Officer in 2017.  In 2021, he transitioned to Chief Operating Officer for the department. He came to Evanston from SMU in Dallas, where he served as Senior Associate Athletics Director and Chief Operating Officer for the Mustangs.

Prior to joining SMU in 2014, White was the Associate A.D and CFO at Georgia State University where he helped launch the University’s FBS football program in 2010.

“White has successfully crafted capital project facility finance plans for nearly $550 million in projects at Southern Methodist University and Northwestern University working collaboratively with university leaders and external lenders throughout the planning, construction and completion of major facility projects,” his Northwestern bio boasts.

Kevin White is a North Carolina graduate, class of 2001, and earned his MBA at Kennesaw State.

Kevin White joins new Clemson AD Graham Neff

The Clemson Board of trustees approved Graham Neff as Clemson’s AD by the Clemson Board of Trustee in December and now he has a right-hand man. Neff replaced Dan Radakovich, who left to serve as the Director of Athletics at Miami.

Neff is in his ninth year at Clemson and served as the Deputy Director of Athletics prior to Radakovich’s departure.

The 38-year-old is starting out at $850,000 annually and will receive a $50,000 pay increase each year. He also has an opportunity for up to $200,000 a year in bonuses. Neff’s contract runs through June 30, 2027.

“Graham, as you all know, is well-respected in his field and is considered a rising star in collegiate athletics,” Clemson President Jim Clements said. “He is in every sense of the word a five-star.”

Neff is a graduate of Georgia Tech who joined Clemson Athletics in 2013 as Associate AD of Finance and Facilities. He is the 14th Director of Athletics in university history.