Kevin White, Clemson’s deputy athletic director, is reportedly on track to become UNC Charlotte’s next athletic director, according to multiple reports. The move would drop an experienced fundraiser and operations strategist into the 49ers’ top chair as the school tries to steady the ship after last fall’s shake-up. White, a University of North Carolina alumnus, has overseen Clemson’s football and men’s basketball programs since joining the Tigers in 2022.
As reported by The Charlotte Observer, which cites national outlets, talks around White’s potential hire ramped up over the weekend. The search began after the university’s October 2025 decision to part ways with longtime athletic director Mike Hill, a move officials framed as part of a broader strategic reset. Charlotte Athletics issued the original statement announcing Hill’s departure and naming interim leadership.
What White Would Bring
At Clemson, White serves as deputy director of athletics and sport supervisor for football and men’s basketball, while also staying deep in the weeds on the money side. Clemson Athletics notes that since arriving in April 2022 he has been heavily involved in IPTAY fundraising, ticket operations and NIL strategy, along with revenue-share arrangements and athlete-agent negotiations. It is the kind of hybrid portfolio of fundraising, facilities work and NIL expertise that many schools now see as essential if they want to grow donor dollars and stay competitive on the field.
Why The Hire Matters For Charlotte
UNC Charlotte’s move into the American Athletic Conference came with louder expectations for revenue, facilities and on-field results, and campus leadership has been clear that the department needs fresh direction to match those ambitions. Coverage from Axios highlighted the twin pressures of upgrading facilities while also growing new revenue streams. An athletic director fluent in multimedia rights, donor relations and NIL partnerships would be a logical fit for a program trying to close those gaps instead of watching rivals pull away.
Background And Next Steps
Before Clemson, White held senior operations roles at Northwestern and SMU, where he worked on budgets, capital projects and contract negotiations, according to profiles of his career. On3 detailed his involvement in facility financing, and The Daily Memphian reported that he was among the candidates considered in Memphis’ 2024 athletic director search. That national track record helps explain why White’s name surfaced so quickly once Charlotte opened its job.
If the reported move is finalized, observers can expect a university announcement and a relatively short transition period heading into spring fundraising and NIL cycles. Charlotte Chancellor Sharon Gaber has previously told reporters that the decision to remove Hill “was not driven by the performance of any specific team,” according to The Charlotte Observer. For now, Clemson and UNC Charlotte have both stayed quiet publicly, with no formal confirmation of White’s hire.
