Clemson Athletics Black History: Oliver Purnell
Oliver Purnell was the first African-American head coach of a men’s sport in Clemson history. He served as the leader of the men’s basketball program for seven years and took Clemson a record tying 25 wins in 2006-07 and the championship game of the NIT. He then guided Clemson to the NCAA Tournament each of his last three years, just the second Clemson coach to do that.
In 2008, he coached Clemson to the championship game of the ACC Tournament, just the second appearance in the final game in school history. That season the Tigers finished 22