Board Member Spotlight
Michael Coakley ’91, P’23*
After earning a bachelor’s degree in management from Clemson in 1991, Michael joined the C.J. Coakley Company Co., Inc. and then rose through the ranks to become its co-president. Today, the family-owned business that started in 1962 is a full-service interior contractor and one of the largest drywall companies in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
As co-president, Michael manages major construction projects that include many at iconic national landmarks such as the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon, the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The company received a special commendation from the Department of Defense for work on rebuilding the part of the Pentagon that was damaged on 9/11.
Among his many volunteer roles for Clemson, Michael is a longtime leader of the Baltimore/Washington, DC Clemson Club, which also serves northern Virginia. He was the club’s co-president for 11 years (2000-2011) and has co-chaired its regional board of directors since 2012. He has served the Clemson Alumni Association on its alumni council and board of directors.
He is a member of the Clemson Legacy Society, which honors donors who have included Clemson in their estate plans, and the 1889 Vision Society, which honors donors for significant cumulative giving. He has made annual gifts for academics since he graduated and was an inaugural member of the President’s Leadership Circle.
Michael and his wife, Beth, have a son, Neil, who graduated from Clemson in December 2023, and two daughters, Lauren and Evelyn.
* This information was taken from the Clemson Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award website.
Upcoming Events
See AllFootball Watching Party vs South Carolina
Football Watching Party vs South Carolina
November 29
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12:00 pm
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3:00 pm
Come out to cheer on our Tigers with fellow local alumni, parents, and fans. Everyone is welcome – whether you’re a die-hard fan or just want to be part of the Clemson spirit. We’ll be watching the games all season long at the locations listed below while enjoying food and drink specials exclusively for our group as we celebrate those Tiger touchdowns.
Kickoff is at noon.
2025 Game Watch Locations
- Arlington, VA – Astro Beer Hall, 4001 Campbell Avenue
- Baltimore, MD – Little Havana, 1325 Key Highway
- DC – Mission Navy Yard, 1221 Van Street SE
- Bethesda, MD – BT’s** (pilot location), 4866 Cordell Avenue
**While Tiger fans are most welcome to watch games at BT’s each week, the Club will only be officially hosting a few games there this season. Stay tuned for which games!
Don’t forget to check in when you arrive each week at the parties, and we’ll make an Annual Fund donation in your name from the Club! We’re always looking for more Tigers to help host watch parties. Want to volunteer for a game or two? Contact beth@clemsonclub.org.
Wreaths Out
Wreaths Out
January 10, 2026
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8:00 am
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10:00 am
By January, the holiday spirit has lessened and the weather is colder. The 250,000+ holiday wreaths that were placed at Arlington National Cemetery in December are ready to be removed. Coordinated by Wreaths Across America, this is an often overlooked volunteer opportunity. Join the Clemson Club to help retrieve/remove wreaths as we honor veterans, their service and their final resting place.
This volunteer opportunity is open to everyone and many hands are needed to help!
Please note that attendees over 18 years old may be required to show a valid Real ID.
Mom's Care Package Party - VA
Mom's Care Package Party - VA
January 22, 2026
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6:30 pm
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8:30 pm
We would love to have you join us in Ashburn, VA for a very casual evening of Clemson camaraderie! We’ll enjoy hors d’oeuvres and beverages, meet some great local Clemson moms, and assemble care packages for our Clemson students in time for a Valentine’s Day surprise.
Here’s how it works: Once we have a confirmed guest count, each person is asked to bring one item to contribute to the care packages. For example, if we have 15 people joining, then you would bring 15 of one item (Rice Krispies treats, lip balm, ramen noodles, fuzzy socks … you get the idea!) and at the end of the night, you’ll walk away with a box full of goodies that you can mail to your Clemson student(s).
Sounds like fun, right?!
Event details and the final count for the number of items to bring will be emailed two days prior to the event.
CU@Home - CU-ICAR
CU@Home - CU-ICAR
January 28, 2026
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12:00 pm
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1:00 pm
Join us for this special lunch time event featuring David Clayton, the Executive Director of the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR).
David will give us a behind the scenes glimpse into how Clemson and CU-ICAR are fundamentally redefining the automotive industry through strategic partnerships and cutting-edge research. We’ll hear about CU-ICAR’s work with autonomous vehicles including a look at Deep Orange, the flagship graduate student program that challenges students to design, engineer, and prototype a completely new concept vehicle in two years, pushing the boundaries of conventional design.
