Clemson’s Athletic Director Graham Neff has been serving as the AD since December 2021. He is the 14th AD to take up the role, after he replaced Dan Radakovich. Previously, he also served as the school’s deputy athletic director. Now, in a recent development, he has renewed his contract with the Tigers. On Friday morning, the university board of trustees’ compensation committee approved his extension.

Graham Neff’s Contract Breakdown

As per the recent contract details, as reported by The State’s Chapel Fowler, Neff’s new paycheck has seen a whopping 39% rise from his past contract. The latest contract stretches on till 2031 for $9 million. His deal further includes a $250,000 “licensing fee” per year, for his “name, likeness, trademarks, and similar IP,” per the State. In addition to that, a retention bonus of $30,000 is stated if he is still there till July 2026.

Moreover, if Neff were to let go, without cause, the program would owe him 75% of the remaining money left in his contract. Meanwhile, if the AD initiates his contract termination and accepts the AD job for another program, he would owe the Tigers 25% of the money left in his remaining contract.

As per his last contract, which was to expire on 2026-27, his annual base salary amounted to $85,000, with a scope of an additional $200,000 in incentives each year.

Graham Neff’s Salary/ What is Graham Neff’s Salary?

Till recently, he enjoyed $900,000, with his contract running till 2027. And now, he will enjoy a sum of $1.25 million for 2025-26, which will eventually be bumped to $1.75 million.

The base pay comes with 1 million per year, topped off with an additional increase of $100,000 per year. Along with a $250,000 sum for deferred compensation, the base salary notches up to $1.25 million, and will ultimately max out to $1.75 million by 2030-31, per The Post and Courier.

Graham Neff’s Net Worth

With the latest contract extension, Graham Neff’s net worth shoots up to $1.25 million-$1.5 million, seating him among the highest-paid athletics directors. In July, it was reported that Tennessee’s Athletic Director, Danny White, topped the list with a $3.5 million paycheck for the 2024-25 year, as reported by USA Today in July.

But with added incentives, he might see a spike in his annual earnings. “He’s (Neff) doing a wonderful job as our AD and represents us very well on the national scale,” said President Jim Clements.

“I’ve said it a couple of times now because I love the phrase,” Neff had said last August. “And I’ve said it a lot more internally: A strong ACC is good for Clemson, and a strong Clemson is good for the ACC.”

Among the incentives, Neff could earn up to $250,000 per year. His contract states $25,000 if the school’s athletic fundraising arm raises more than $80 million in a year. With the next incentive focused on ACC’s latest viewership model for revenue distribution, which Neff presided over, when the program sued ACC. If the Tigers finished top four on the ACC viewership model, the AD would receive another $25,000.

In addition to that, he could earn another $50,000 if Clemson Football makes it to the CFB playoff and a national championship game.

Graham Neff’s Brand Endorsement

There is no information available (publicly) about his personal brand endorsements.

Although for Clemson, he has rolled out multiple initiatives for generating revenue. The program’s former NIL collective, 110 Society, was closed down, with Clemson Ventures handling the processes. With the evolving college football and NIL landscape, the AD introduced the new venture. ” Now, for us to lean in and facilitate from a business standpoint, that best aligns with Clemson Ventures.”

With the latest $20.5 million revenue-sharing model, Graham Neff plans to increase Clemson’s athletic revenue from $193.9 million to more than $200 million going forward in his tenure. In Clemson’s scheme of things for future revenue-generating steps, Neff plays an important role. President James Clement further stated that, “We’d like to lock him in long term and make sure that he remains at Clemson for the remainder of his career.”

The AD has been part of the program for 12 years and has done a “wonderful job” over his tenure. Moreover, he has been among the Forty Under 40 honorees by the Sports Business Journal.