Chris Clopton joined the John Purdue Club staff in 2007 as an assistant director after spending the 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons as a graduate assistant for the Boilermaker football team. He was promoted to associate director in 2011, senior director in 2013 and assistant athletics director/senior director of development in 2017. His primary responsibilities include building major support for student-athletes and sports programs through donor cultivation and fundraising, as well as growing the Varsity P Club by engaging former letterwinners, student-athletes, managers, athletic trainers and cheerleaders.

Clopton was a four-year letterwinner for the Boilermakers from 1997 to 2000. He was a wide receiver, running back and cornerback as well as kickoff return specialist. Clopton's 2000 season proved to be his finest. As part of a Big Ten Conference championship and Rose Bowl team, he registered 41 tackles and four pass breakups. His total of 1,553 kickoff return yards is the fourth-most in school history.

Clopton played Arena 2 Football with the Bossier City-Shreveport (Louisiana) Battle Wings in 2001, and he spent the 2002 and 2003 seasons with the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League.

A native of Linwood, Illinois, Clopton earned a bachelor's degree in computer information systems in 2001 and a master's degree in educational technology in 2007, both from Purdue. He and his wife, Bethany, have two sons, Zion and Jericho, and two daughters, Zimri and Janai.