Jim Clements sits in a comfortable seat these days, both literally and figuratively.
As president of Clemson University, he oversees a school in South Carolina with enrollment near 23,000. His football program is a national championship contender. His athletic department has stability as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
But not so long ago, Clements was squirming in his seat, trying to find athletic stability for WVU as the president there. Finally, he and then-Mountaineer Athletic Director Oliver Luck found a home within the Big 12.
These days, while the Big 12 struggles with issues like expansion, Clements watches from afar. But he also does so with interest.
"In my family, we have six WVU alums," Clements said this week. "We have my son Ty. We have my daughter Maggie. We have Maggie's husband Tanner [Coombs]. Then I have two nieces and a nephew that are alums."
Also, Clements was not only at WVU's most recent graduation, but involved.
"I got to give [Maggie] a hug on stage," said the Clemson president. "One of my dreams was to sign [the degrees of] Tyler, Hannah and Maggie. I got to sign their acceptance letters when they got accepted to WVU. ... And I'd always dreamed of giving them their diplomas on stage and giving them a hug."
He didn't get to sign Maggie's diploma, but was allowed to go on stage for the big moment.
"It was so awesome to be back in Morgantown," Clements said. "It's such a great place."
It's certain Clements will always have a connection to West Virginia. In addition to his time in Morgantown, his daughter Grace, 16, has apraxia neurological speech disorder, and the family has a $25,000 speech pathology and audiology research endowment at the school in her name.
"We did that when my mother passed away," Clements said. "A lot of generous people donated to that. So I'll always be tied to and will always love WVU."
Now, though, his attention is on Clemson and the ACC. The differences in athletic programs?
"Two great academic schools; two great athletic schools," Clements said. "Neither state has a pro team, so people are pretty tied into their Mountaineers and Tigers. Both have passionate fans bases. Both are special places.
"At Clemson, it's been a great run since I've been here. This year, we went to the national championship in football and soccer. We won the ACC in football, men's golf and baseball. So it's special here, but people, including myself, love WVU as well. I watched as many basketball games and football games as I could."
Clements is sort of a good luck charm. He was at WVU when it defeated Clemson 70-33 in the 2012 Orange Bowl and is in South Carolina now. The Tigers lost just 45-40 to Alabama in the most recent football national championship.
"I was also in Morgantown when WVU won the Big East at Madison Square Garden [in 2010]," Clements said. "That memory, for me, is unbelievable. To hear 'Country Roads' played at Madison Square Garden and see fans crying with joy was special. It was huge for [Bob] Huggins. Then there was the run to the Final Four."
Clements continued.
"There was the first home Big 12 [football] game," he said. "Remember when Baylor came to Morgantown and it was a 70-63 shootout? I remember the first trip to Austin, Texas. Just so many great memories."
Clements no doubt stays abreast of the current happenings within the Big 12. He and Luck, after all, helped place WVU in the conference.
"I remember everything about it," Clements said. "It was a great team effort and a lot of work. I'm happy WVU is in one of the Big 5 power conferences. It's where WVU needs to be. It's where WVU should be. The Big 12 is a great conference. WVU is highly competitive in that conference. It's a big success for the university."
The Clemson president remembers when West Virginia got the thumbs up.
"I got the official call [from then-commissioner Chuck Neinas] when the presidents made their vote," Clements said. "There were a lot of schools trying to get in. And we worked hard to make it happen."
He had also been in contact with then-Kansas State president Kirk Schultz, who is now at Washington State, among others.
"We were trying to sell the value of WVU academically and athletically," Clements said. "Luckily, I've been in higher education for almost 30 years. I know a lot of presidents and chancellors. I was reaching out to them. Oliver [Luck] was reaching out to the athletic directors. We did everything we could. I talked to presidents, chancellors, board members, everyone I could. I'm happy it all worked out."
Now, of course, much is working out at Clemson as well - thanks in large part to football coach Dabo Swinney.
"He's a great guy and coach," Clements said. "Just a wonderful man and leader. We love him. He's very serious about his players graduating."
As for conference realignment, the Clemson president said, "I think it's settled down, at least for now. It was interesting times there for a couple years. We had teams leaving historic rivalries, like WVU-Pitt. That's a rivalry I loved and was sad to see it go. I think there's stability now."
So ... how about a WVU-Clemson regular-season football game or two?
"I don't get involved in scheduling," Clements said. "I leave those things to the athletic director."
What he won't leave, however, is his affinity for West Virginia and WVU. Clements said he and wife Beth frequently talk about making trips back. They try to make a WVU football and basketball game once a year.
"We have so many friends there," Clements said. "I love WVU. My kids will always love it, and my family will always love it. It's special to me."