Brad Brownell, Clemson make coaching staff additions official

On3 imageby:Matt Connolly04/25/22

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CLEMSON — Brad Brownell has officially added two new members to his coaching staff.

Clemson announced the hires of Billy Donlon and Sean Dixon on Monday. Donlon has been named associate head coach, while Dixon will serve as an assistant coach.

Donlon and Dixon replace Antonio Reynolds-Dean and Kareem Richardson, who left earlier this offseason.

Donlon comes to Clemson after previously serving as the head coach at UMKC. He has more than 20 years of coaching experience and worked with Brownell at UNC-Wilmington and Wright State.

“I’m extremely fortunate to add someone as talented as Billy to my coaching staff. He and I have had lots of success together dating back to our time at Wright State and UNCW,” Brownell said in a statement. “He has an incredible passion for teaching the game of basketball and our players will benefit greatly from working with him on and off the court. Because of his time as a head coach at UMKC and Wright State and as an assistant at two Big Ten schools he will expand our recruiting base nationally.”

Donlon is set to make $450,000 per year and signed a two-year contract.

Dixon comes to Clemson from Middle Tennessee. He played college basketball at Presbyterian College in Clinton and has also coached at PC and UNC Asheville, in addition to Middle Tennessee.

Dixon is originally from the Atlanta area.

“Sean is an extremely talented young coach, who excels at teaching the game and building relationships with players. He holds strong recruiting ties in the southeast and has done a great job recruiting in this region,” Brownell said. “He has played a big role in helping Head Coach Nicholas McDevitt establish winning programs at both UNC Asheville and Middle Tennessee State and has all the tools necessary to become a future head coach in this business.”

Dixon is set to make $285,000 annually. He also received a two-year deal.

Clemson is coming off of a 17-16 (8-12) season. The Tigers need to reach the NCAA Tournament in 2022-23 after missing out this past season, and Brownell expects Donlon and Dixon to help Clemson do just that.

“This is a great day for Clemson Basketball with the addition of these two coaches to our staff,” Brownell said. “They bring a tremendous amount of success in their careers as both Division I players and coaches.”