Clemson's legendary SID Tim Bourret to Retire July 1

Clemson, S.C.—Longtime Clemson Football Communications Director Tim Bourret announced Friday that he will retire from the position on July 1, 2018.   Bourret began his Clemson career as an assistant sports information director under Bob Bradley on September 1, 1978.

 “It seems like yesterday that I was given the opportunity to travel with the Notre Dame football team for the 1977 game at Clemson,” said Bourret.  “It was a free trip to experience the pageantry of a Clemson football game. Little did I know that I would start a 40-year career here the following year."

“Obviously this has been a special place, but more importantly it has consistently been an institution with special people. That list for me starts with Bob Bradley, who taught me so much about Clemson, its history and its people.  I have worked with six football coaches and six basketball coaches very closely and have great respect for all of them today."

“For the last 10 years I couldn’t have had a better head coach to work with than Dabo Swinney.  His strength of character carries to everyone else on his staff and the student-athletes."

“The same goes for head Golf coach Larry Penley and the 35 years I have worked with him.  He has always had a program that is close to my heart.”

Clemson's Dabo Swinney said, “I’ve been at Clemson for 15 years, and started in college football in 1993, and there has truly been nobody better at what he does than Tim Bourret. I’m sad he’s going to be leaving full time, so he won’t be putting in 70 or so hours a week, but if anybody has earned the ability to pull back and have some time of their own, it’s Tim. While he’s not going to be around every day, I’m glad he’ll still be around Clemson and will still be a resource to me and the athletic department."

Swinney went on to say, "I have such a deep appreciation for his brilliance, how he’s handled himself, the way he’s represented our program and this university and passion for what he does. Thank you, Tim!”

A native of West Hartford, Conn, Bourret was inducted into the CoSIDA Hall of Fame last summer.  Under his direction, the Clemson Sports Information Department has been honored with a “Super Eleven” Award by the Football Writers Association of America four times in the last eight years.

Bourret, who will continue to live in the area, will be involved with the athletic department in a part-time capacity in terms of writing and broadcast assignments, and other special projects.