Cory Clemetson ’93 came to University of the Pacific to play Division I basketball. He graduated not just with DI experience, but with confidence, purpose and the beginnings of a successful sports business career. 

“Coming to Pacific was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” he said. “The university had a profound impact on me. I learned invaluable life lessons on and off the court that helped me grow as a person and shaped my business career. I graduated with unshakable friendships and memories to last a lifetime.”

Clemetson began his career as a sports agent, ultimately becoming one of the leading soccer agents in the country. Today, he is co-owner and managing partner of Wolf Creek Golf Club (Mesquite, NV), president of Primm South Real Estate Company (Primm, NV) and co-owner and partner of NevDex Properties, a commercial real estate company in Reno.

He and his wife Deborah credit Pacific for laying the foundation for his success. To give back, they made a generous gift to Pacific Athletics that honors his roots and celebrates the university’s lifelong impact on their family.                                                                                                                                                         

The gift supports the Student-Athlete and Sports Medicine Center, currently under construction on the Stockton Campus. It also will provide a new video scoreboard on Knoles Field for the men’s and women’s soccer teams. “Cory and Deborah’s generosity will help Pacific attract top caliber student-athletes and give them an outstanding experience here,” said Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Scott Biedermann ’05, ’20. “These details make a difference. When our students get to play and grow in high-quality spaces their community has supported, they know that their experience matters to us.”

A walk-on from Silicon Valley, Clemetson was recruited by legendary head coach Bob Thomason and participated on the Tigers’ travel squad. Years later, his gratitude for his playing career made supporting Pacific basketball a natural choice. 

“I thought I was a competitor already, but with the Tigers I learned to compete at a level I didn’t know I had in me,” he said. “I learned that to succeed, you have to find the strength to do things you don’t think you can handle. And I learned resilience—to continue pushing through tough days to be the best version of yourself.”

Opening in late 2026, the Student-Athlete and Sports Medicine Center will house state-of-the-art treatment, training and rehabilitation facilities serving all 21 Division I sports programs. It also will include team lounges and locker rooms for the basketball and volleyball teams. 

The Cory and Deborah Clemetson Men’s Basketball Locker Room will be named in the couple’s honor.

“We recognize how highly competitive college athletics is and how much Pacific’s student-athletes need these resources,” Clemetson said. “They need the best locker rooms, film rooms, and importantly, the trainers need the ability to keep them as healthy and fit as possible.”

As a soccer agent, Clemetson represented many U.S. men’s national team and Major League Soccer stars after the 1994 World Cup. His most notable clients included Cobi Jones, Brian McBride, Earnie Stewart and Paul Caligiuri. 

The Clemetsons’ gift to Pacific soccer honors the sport’s impact on his early career. The new videoboard also will bear the couple’s name.

“Soccer is so meaningful to us—it’s where I started and how I made my mark,” Clemetson said. “Pacific’s soccer teams have good facilities, but they need a state-of-the-art scoreboard that is reflective of a top Division I program. Deb and I are honored to provide that.”

Today, Clemetson services professional and amateur golfers at Wolf Creek, which is nationally recognized as one of the top public golf courses in the United States and has been featured in PGA Tour video games. 

A longtime supporter of Pacific Athletics, he previously served as chair of the Athletics Leadership Council, advising university leadership on ways to improve the student-athlete experience. He also champions sports in his home communities. He has coached hundreds of young basketball players over the past decade while serving as co-founder and president of the Kids for Sports Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Southern Nevada that helps children and families overcome financial barriers to participate in sports. 

The Clemetsons are the parents of twin college students and have enjoyed reconnecting with Pacific as empty nesters.

“Every time we come to campus, we feel the warmth of the Pacific community,” Deborah Clemetson said. “The athletics community in particular has warmly embraced our family at all stages of life. Cory often says that no matter how long he’s been away, he always feels welcome when he returns. We are proud to make a gift to show our appreciation.”

Director of Athletics Adam Tschuor called the Clemetsons’ gift “a game changer for the Tigers.”

“Such gifts, which spark meaning both for Pacific and for the giver, are the ones that stand the test of time,” Tschuor said. “We are deeply grateful for their support and hope it will be a clarion call to others, showing what such generosity can accomplish for years to come."

To learn about giving to support Pacific Athletics, contact Scott Biedermann at 209.946.2166 or sbiedermann@pacific.edu.