Amanda Butler out as Clemson women’s basketball coach

After six seasons, Clemson is parting ways with women’s basketball coach Amanda Butler.

After six seasons, Clemson is parting ways with women’s basketball coach Amanda Butler.

Butler compiled an overall record of 86-102 (32-75 in conference play) in her six seasons as Tigers coach. Clemson was 12-19 this past season, including 5-13 in ACC games. The program finished 12th in league standings.

The Tigers made only one NCAA Tournament appearance with Butler as coach — in her first season back in 2018-19. That year, Clemson went 20-13 overall and fell to Mississippi State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The program has had only one winning season since then — in 2022-23, when the Tigers finished 19-16 overall. Clemson accepted an invitation to the WNIT and reached the Super 16 before falling to Florida, the school Butler had previously coached before she was hired by Clemson.

The Tigers have made just two Women’s NCAA Tournament appearances dating back to the 2001-2002 season.

Peegs.com’s Talia Goodman was the first to report the news of Butler’s departure from the program in a social media post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Clemson women’s basketball lands a 5-star commitment from Imari Berry

Clemson women’s basketball landed one of the top recruits in the 2024 class.

Head coach Amanda Butler and the Clemson women’s basketball team landed a huge recruit in the 2024 class on Saturday. 

Five-star 2024 Guard Imari Berry (Clarksville, TN) announced via Twitter/X that she has committed to Clemson, taking the next step in her career with the Tigers. Butler went out on the recruiting trail and landed one of the best in the country. 

According to ESPN’s recruiting rankings, Berry is the No.2 guard and the No.7 overall player in the country. The guard averaged 26.1 points per game last season, earning region and district MVP honors.

A massive pickup for the program, Berry will look to have an immediate impact.

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Clemson announces renovation plans for Littlejohn Coliseum

The home of Clemson basketball is getting some upgrades in the coming years.

Via Clemson Athletics Communications:

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson University Board of Trustees and the Finance and Facilities Committee gave Phase I approval on a plan for comprehensive improvements to Swann Pavilion and Littlejohn Coliseum, benefiting both men’s and women’s basketball programs, with the recently added gymnastics program beginning competition in the spring of 2024. The project includes renovations of more than 51,000 square feet of existing team spaces and 30,000 square feet of new construction at a cost of $40 million.

“We are thankful to be able to begin the process of continued commitments to our basketball programs,” said Director of Athletics Graham Neff. “Strong basketball programs are key to an elite intercollegiate athletic department, which greatly impacts the student experience. We are thankful to the Brown Family for their generous support, which will allow us to continue the progress of bringing our basketball facilities among the top in the country.”

Construction would commence upon Phase II Board and State approval.

Anticipated facility improvements include further development of operations and technology in the women’s basketball team spaces, practice gym, offices and recruiting areas. Additionally, the improvements include modernization and expansion to shared strength & conditioning, nutrition, and sports medicine spaces. Some of the newly constructed spaces include men’s basketball team areas, offices, and practice gym.

Upon completion, each program will have its own designated practice gym, updated offices and team areas, as well as improved performance spaces. Externally, modified site circulation on the exterior along with a new expanded patio and plaza opportunity at the corner of the facility are included for the teams.

“This is a great step forward for our program,” said Head Women’s Basketball Coach Amanda Butler. “Clemson continues to invest in basketball, and we’re excited for what these improvements mean for the demands of our program and winning at a high level. We’re thankful to our donors and fans who have made this possible, and all the work that has gone into the process so far.”

“What a great day for Clemson Basketball,” said Head Men’s Basketball Coach Brad Brownell. “In 2013, when we first took steps to renovate Littlejohn Coliseum, Joe and Bobbi Swann aided in the advancement of both programs with the construction of the Swann Pavilion. This new project, spearheaded by Jim and Candace Brown, will continue to give us some of the best facilities in the ACC and the country, while enabling us to consistently provide our student-athletes with a first-class experience. I want to thank the Browns for their considerable generosity and strong support of our program.”

Littlejohn Coliseum last underwent major renovation beginning in May 2015. The $63.5 million renovation was completed prior to the 2016-17 season, which also added the Swann Pavilion and Burton Gallery. The existing building originally was constructed beginning in 1966 and opened for the first time on November 30, 1968.

Clemson basketball attendees announced for 2022 ACC Basketball Tipoff

Head coaches Brad Brownell and Amanda Butler along with three student-athletes will represent the Tigers at the ACC Basketball Tipoff event in Charlotte, NC next week.

Via ACC press release:

The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Wednesday the basketball student-athletes selected by its 15 league schools to attend the 2022 ACC Tipoff, which will be held October 11-12 at the Westin in Charlotte, North Carolina. The women’s event will be held on Tuesday, October 11 and the men’s event on Wednesday, October 12.

ACC Network will be live from ACC Tipoff for two days of expansive coverage from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The 24/7 national network dedicated to ACC sports will provide the event’s most robust television coverage to date.

The attendees for the 2022 ACC Tipoff are:

WOMEN’S TIPOFF (October 11)

Boston College
Head Coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee
Maria Gakdeng
Dontavia Waggoner

Clemson
Head Coach Amanda Butler
Amari Robinson

Duke
Head Coach Kara Lawson
Reigan Richardson
Celeste Taylor

Florida State
Head Coach Brooke Wyckoff
O’Mariah Gordon
Makayla Timpson

Georgia Tech
Head Coach Nell Fortner
Bianca Jackson
Cameron Swartz

Louisville
Head Coach Jeff Walz
Olivia Cochran
Mykasa Robinson
Hailey Van Lith

Miami
Head Coach Katie Meier
Destiny Harden
Ja’Leah Williams

North Carolina
Head Coach Courtney Banghart
Deja Kelly
Kennedy Todd-Williams

NC State
Head Coach Wes Moore
Jakia Brown-Turner
Diamond Johnson

Notre Dame
Head Coach Niele Ivey
Dara Mabrey
Olivia Miles

Pitt
Head Coach Lance White
Dayshanette Harris
Channise Lewis

Syracuse
Head Coach Felicia Legette-Jack
Dyaisha Fair
Teisha Hyman

Virginia
Head Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton
Sam Brunelle
Camryn Taylor

Virginia Tech   
Head Coach Kenny Brooks
Georgia Amoore
Elizabeth Kitley

Wake Forest     
Head Coach Megan Gebbia
Jewel Spear
Olivia Summiel

MEN’S TIPOFF (October 12)

Boston College
Head Coach Earl Grant
Makai Ashton-Langford
Quinten Post

Clemson
Head Coach Brad Brownell
Chase Hunter
Hunter Tyson

Duke
Head Coach Jon Scheyer
Jacob Grandison
Jeremy Roach

Florida State
Head Coach Leonard Hamilton
Matthew Cleveland
Caleb Mills

Georgia Tech
Head Coach Josh Pastner
Rodney Howard
Kyle Sturdivant

Louisville
Head Coach Kenny Payne
El Ellis
Sydney Curry

Miami
Head Coach Jim Larrañaga
Jordan Miller
Isaiah Wong

North Carolina 
Head Coach Hubert Davis
Armando Bacot
RJ Davis
Caleb Love

NC State           
Head Coach Kevin Keatts
Jarkel Joiner
Terquavion Smith

Notre Dame      
Head Coach Mike Brey
Dane Goodwin
Cormac Ryan

Pitt      
Head Coach Jeff Capel
Jamarius Burton
Nelly Cummings

Syracuse           
Head Coach Jim Boeheim
Joseph Girard III
Jesse Edwards

Virginia             
Head Coach Tony Bennett
Kihei Clark
Jayden Gardner

Virginia Tech
Head Coach Mike Young
Hunter Cattoor
Justyn Mutts

Wake Forest     
Head Coach Steve Forbes
Tyree Appleby
Daivien Williamson

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Another Clemson coach gets contract extension

Clemson University and head women’s basketball coach Amanda Butler have agreed to a contract extension through 2027, the athletic department announced today. The terms of the contract were approved by the Clemson University Board of Trustees …

Clemson University and head women’s basketball coach Amanda Butler have agreed to a contract extension through 2027, the athletic department announced today. The terms of the contract were approved by the Clemson University Board of Trustees Compensation Committee.

Amanda Butler has compiled a 280-230 career record and has the best overall winning percentage by a Clemson coach since Jim Davis. She also has the most wins over ranked teams in her time at Clemson since Davis.

Butler has coached two All-ACC performers in her first four seasons at the helm of the Tiger program, including a two-time selection in Delicia Washington (Second team, 2021; First team, 2022). She also coached back-to-back ACC All-Freshman team selections and two ACC All-Defensive team honorees.

Butler has guided Clemson to two postseason appearances in three chances (2019 NCAA Tournament; 2021 WNIT), after the 2020 postseason was canceled due to the pandemic. Butler has also led the Tigers to numerous “streak-ending” victories, including the first win over Duke in 20 years, the first Wake Forest season sweep in 14 years and the program’s first-ever win over Syracuse. In December of 2019, Butler’s Tigers went to South Bend and handed Notre Dame its’ first-ever home ACC loss.

Clemson’s 2022 recruiting class included the program’s first-ever McDonald’s All-American in Ruby Whitehorn and a JUCO All-American in Ale’Jah Douglas, and was ranked #25 by ASGR (#5 in the ACC).

Clemson’s athletic department also announced Thursday that Clemson University and head softball coach John Rittman have agreed to a five-year contract extension through 2027.

–Courtesy of Clemson Athletic Communications

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