The first mention I can find of Clemson’s Brad Brownell being on the hot seat came in September 2013, in an article by Athlon Sports that placed him among the 15 coaches in need of strong years to keep their jobs. His name kept popping up on those lists until a strong finish to that season, ending the year 10–8 in the ACC and advancing to the NIT semifinals.
Since then, Brownell’s name has popped up on hot seat lists every few years. The heat was on entering 2017–18 after a 17–16 season and the graduation of star Jaron Blossomgame, but Brownell’s Tigers put together a remarkable 25-win campaign and went to the Sweet 16, earning him a six-year extension in the process.