He retained Brad Scott, with his Florida State-South Carolina-Clemson background, Billy Napier (Furman-Clemson) and Andre Powell (North Carolina-Virginia), and hired Kevin Steele (Florida State-Alabama), Danny Pearman (Clemson-Alabama-Virginia Tech) and Charlie Harbison (Alabama-LSU-Clemson-Mississippi State).

But last year, when Swinney made a change at the offensive coordinator position, he looked elsewhere for his top two candidates – Chad Morris out of Tulsa, just a year removed from the Texas high school sidelines, and Justin Fuente, offensive coordinator at TCU.

Swinney continued his look to the West earlier this winter when he zeroed in quickly on Oklahoma’s Brent Venables as his choice for defensive coordinator.

Venables, like Morris before him, brings a fresh outlook and a very different background to Clemson’s coaching staff.

For Venables, the trunk of his personal coaching tree is Hayden Fry, long-time head coach at Iowa, who has sent a string of former players and assistant coaches to high-profile head coaching jobs, including Bob and Mark Stoops, Bill Snyder, Barry Alvarez, Jim Leavitt and Bo Pelini, among others.

Venables’ particular limb of the tree starts with Snyder, for whom he played at Kansas State, and includes the Stoops brothers, who he coached with, and for, at Oklahoma.

Asked to talk about his coaching influences during an interview with Clemson’s official website, Venables started with Snyder, who recruited him out of Garden City (Kansas) Community College, where he earned All-America honors as a linebacker in 1990.

At Kansas State, he encountered a tutor that he describes as “relentless in his demands” and “methodical” in his approach to everything he does.

“There’s just a totality and mind-set and attitude of the program,” said Venables. “Bill’s not a yeller or a screamer, but he’s very much about the discipline that it takes to be a success at anything in life.

“You control what you can control, and your goal should be to get a little bit better every day. He’s very strong into muscle memory. Defense is trained reaction, and offense is execution. He’s not out to trick anybody. It’s fundamentals and technique and playing with great effort, fighting through adversity and handling prosperity, and demanding the most out of your guys.

“If you always stick to those core values, even through rough times – because things aren’t always easy – then you’ll end up weathering the storm.”

From Snyder, Venables said he learned attention to detail and teamwork.

“He’s so much into the little things – fundamentals, technique, effort and being team-oriented,” Venables said. “It’s all team – we’re the Clemson Tigers, just like they’re the Kansas State Wildcats. It’s not offense-defense and all that. There are going to be days when one side is going to be clicking and the other isn’t. You have to play team football.

“As a team, we have to have the same mind-set – the tough-mindedness that it takes and resolve that it takes. We need to build our leadership within our locker room, and we need to develop chemistry as a team – not just defense and offense.

“If we do those things we’ll have success. It takes work, and you have to foster that environment. It doesn’t just happen by chance.”

As part of Oklahoma’s coaching staff for 13 years, Venables and the Stoops brothers took what they learned from older coaches like Fry and Snyder and ran with it.

“In regard to the influence of both Bob and Mike, it’s a lot of the same principles that we all learned through the Hayden Fry coaching tree,” Venables said. “Bob is a very confident, aggressive coach. He doesn’t want you to coach on your heels. At the same time, he understands when a call wasn’t the perfect call. But that’s OK, get to the next one.”

At Oklahoma, Venables said he learned the value of “forcing the issue.”

“That kind of confidence and aggressive approach means that you’re not afraid about the outcome,” he said. “You want to force the issue as a defensive play-caller and defensive coach. And then you want your players to play that way.

“On game day, (Bob Stoops) didn’t really have that much to say to us on defense. But if you asked him for advice in any particular situation – like ‘do we drop eight or come after them?’ It was always ‘come after them.’

“It’s not like it’s not calculated. It’s not being blitz-happy. Aggression doesn’t mean that you’re sending the house every time.”

Article source: http://www.orangeandwhite.com/news/2012/feb/21/brent-venables-coaching-tree-includes-hayden-fry-b/?partner=yahoo_feeds

File

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney.

CLEMSON – Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips told Tigernet.com Monday he is “working on” extending the contract of football coach Dabo Swinney. The decision to work toward an extension was expected as Phillips told The Post and Courier in December and again last month he planned to meet with Swinney about his contract after the season.

Swinney has three years remaining on a contract he signed in 2009. Swinney’s contract calls for him to receive a significant raise after leading Clemson to its first ACC title in 20 years last season.

By winning the ACC, Swinney’s contract calls for him to receive the median pay of the top seven compensated coaches in the ACC, increasing his compensation from $1.75 million per season to more than $2 million for 2012.

“I know you are only as good as your last game and that is just the way it is,” Phillips to Tigernet.com. But he has won two divisional championships. He has won the ACC Championship, beating a good Virginia Tech team twice.”

Article source: http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2012/feb/14/clemson-working-extending-dabo-swinneys-contract/

File

Phil Kornblut

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has drawn a line in the sand with his football commitments and apparently is not backing down. Swinney does not look fondly upon his commitments visiting other schools.

Offensive lineman RJ Prince of Albemarle, N.C., became the third Clemson commitment in recent seasons to cross that line and lose his Clemson commitment when he visited North Carolina last week. Prince said he’s now favoring the Tar Heels. He has offers from South Carolina, Mississippi State, N.C. State, East Carolina and Duke.

Also visiting North Carolina last week was defensive end Tyquan Lewis of Tarboro, N.C. Lewis has been favoring Clemson, but after his time in Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels are a much bigger factor.

“Reconsidering UNC,” Lewis said. “Coach (Larry) Fedora is one of the coolest coaches ever.” Lewis has offers from Clemson, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Duke, Wake Forest and East Carolina.

In other recruiting news:

Linebacker Jalen Stevens of Goose Creek attended the USC junior day. Stevens wants to play the spur position for the Gamecocks, and said he spoke with coach Steve Spurrier about that. He also spoke with Jadeveon Clowney. Stevens will visit Georgia Tech on Saturday, and Clemson on March 3. He does not have a favorite.

Wide receiver Tramel Terry of Goose Creek took in USC’s junior day and learned more about the Gamecocks’ plans for him. “They would line me up as a wide receiver, as a running back, and in the Wildcat sometimes,” Terry said. “I would do whatever they want me to do. I can play cornerback, too.”

Terry will visit Clemson on March 3 for a junior day. He also plans to visit Georgia Tech. Terry does not have any favorites, but says Clemson and USC are very strong with him.

Spartanburg LB Justin Bridges-Thompson has USC at the top of his list and is anxiously awaiting a call from the Gamecocks with an offer.

Bridges-Thompson attended USC’s junior day. Brown said Oklahoma State has been showing a lot of interest of late. Bridges-Thompson plans to visit Tennessee and Oregon. He has offers from Wake Forest, Pittsburgh and N.C. State.

Clemson has put itself in the lead position with RB Wayne Gallman of Atlanta. Gallman attended the Tigers’ junior day last month.

“I loved everything about it,” Gallman said. “I made a good connection with the coaches. I think I fit in perfectly with their offense.”

Gallman visited Georgia on Saturday and was offered by the Bulldogs. He also plans to visit USC, Alabama, Florida State and Auburn.

One of the big offensive line targets to visit USC for its junior day earlier this month was Tyrone Crowder (6-2, 315) of Rockingham, N.C. Crowder also has visited Clemson, N.C. State, North Carolina, Duke and Alabama. All but N.C. State have offered. He also has offers from East Carolina and Tennessee. Crowder does not have a favorite.

LB Jacarthy Mack of Lithonia, Ga., made his first junior day visit to USC along with his teammate OL Joshua Outlaw. Mack said he does not have a favorite and has no timetable for a decision. USC is his first offer, and he’s also getting interest from Clemson, Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Miami. He plans to go to a junior day at each.

ATH Mykal Moody of Conway attended USC’s junior day and was impressed with Spurrier. Moody is being recruited to play slot receiver and says they discussed using him in the Wildcat.

He also has already visited Clemson and will visit Georgia Tech on Saturday. He also plans to see Oregon and N.C. State.

QB Christian Hackenberg of Fork Union, Va., makes his first junior day visit Saturday when he goes to Penn State. Hackenberg recently picked up offers from Penn State and South Florida. He also has offers from USC, Tennessee, Rutgers, Virginia, Alabama, Connecticut and Miami. This spring Hackenberg plans to visit USC, Miami, Alabama and Tennessee.

One of USC’s top offensive line targets for 2013 is Andy Dodd (6-4, 310) of Lindale, Ga. Dodd, who comes from the same program as USC lineman Kyle Harris, attended USC’s junior day. Dodd visited Georgia Tech last Saturday and has also visited Alabama. He has offers from the Gamecocks and Tech.

QB Boeing Brown (6-4, 218) of Brookfield, Conn., has received interest from several schools including USC, and, according to his father, he favors the Gamecocks. Brown visited last season and will visit again in two weeks, and then return during the spring. Auburn has started to show a lot of interest, and he’s also hearing from Florida, Penn State, Michigan State, N.C. State and Wake Forest, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Maryland, Kentucky and Vanderbilt. Brown has not yet been offered.

DB Cameron Sutton of Jonesboro, Ga., was offered last week by USC. He also has offers from Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss and Kentucky. He’s also drawing interest from Georgia, LSU, Louisville, N.C. State and Oregon. Sutton had two interceptions on defense, and as a receiver he had 31 catches for 500 yards and nine touchdowns.

OL Bryce King of Dillon will not take a scheduled visit to Virginia Tech on Saturday due to an illness in the family. King was at USC’s junior day. There was a possibility he would commit to the Gamecocks on that trip but chose not to. “I told some people that there was a chance but I didn’t say I would,” he said. King has no timetable for a decision and plans to take several visits. “I don’t have a favorite and I am still looking around,” said King. He does not have any other scheduled visits in the near future but plans to take in spring practices at Clemson and USC. His offers are from USC, Clemson, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, N.C. State, LSU and Tennessee with interest from Miami, Alabama, Auburn and Wake Forest, among others.

OL Brandon Kublanow (6-3, 290) of Marietta has added Clemson to his offer sheet and will be at the Tigers’ junior day March 3. He also has offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Duke, Boston College, Virginia, Maryland and Vanderbilt. USC, Florida, Texas, Alabama and Auburn are some of the schools showing interest. Kublanow planned to visit Georgia Tech over the weekend and will go to Alabama this Saturday. He also plans to visit USC, Florida, Texas and Vandy in the near future. He does not have any favorites.

DE Garrett Sickels (6-4, 235) of Red Bank, N.J., has offers from USC, Alabama, Boston College, Connecticut, Duke, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Central Florida, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Stanford, Miami, Purdue, West Virginia and Oklahoma, among others. He is planning to visit USC this summer. He has visited Florida, UCF, Tennessee, Penn State, Georgia and Rutgers.

QB Carlis Parker of Statesville, N.C., was at North Carolina on Wednesday. He also has been to Clemson and N.C. State for junior days. He was invited to USC but didn’t make it because he had no transportation. Parker has offers from USC, North Carolina, Wake Forest, East Carolina, N.C. State and Virginia Tech.

RB Jabo Lee of Dillon said he’s not hearing from USC or Clemson since his recruiters from those schools left. Lee was not offered by USC’s Jay Graham but was getting interest. Clemson’s Kevin Steele offered Lee before his firing. So, with the in-state schools showing little interest, Lee is focusing on out-of-state programs Virginia Tech and Tennessee.

Sophomore QB Will Hunter (6-1, 180) of Lexington figures to be one of the state’s top prospects in the 2014 class after passing for nearly 4.000 yards, 35 touchdowns and only six picks last season. “He’s a special kid,” said Lexington coach Scott Earley. “He’s the real deal.” Earley said Hunter could grow to be 6-4. Hunter had shoulder surgery Jan. 12 to repair damage his labrum he injured in the White Knoll game last season. USC surgeon Dr. Jeff Guy performed the procedure.

“He will miss spring practice but he’ll be full strength by mid-summer,” Earley said. Hunter is not only dealing with his shoulder issue but also the likelihood that a chance for a scholarship offer from Clemson ended with the commitment of fellow sophomore QB DeShaun Watson to the Tigers earlier this month. “Everybody knew that’s where his heart was,” Earley said. “That was really what the kid was going to do. They have a lot of family ties (to Clemson). He’s open now to all kind of things.”

Baseball news

Outfielder Austin Meadows (6-3, 200) of Loganville, Ga., ranked No. 2 in the country by PerfectGame.com for 2013, has committed to Clemson.

He chose the Tigers over offers from North Carolina, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Auburn. He also drew interest from USC.

Meadows is a left-handed hitter described by PerfectGame as an outstanding athlete with huge potential with his bat. Last summer for the Under16 Team USA National Team, Meadows batted .537 with one homer and drove in a tournament record 28 runs.

Last spring for his high school, he hit .388 with one homer and 18 RBIs in only 49 at-bats.

Article source: http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2012/feb/14/swinney-sticking-to-his-guns/

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney thinks he’s got one of the best staffs in college football. After Wednesday, he’s got one of the best paid, too.

Clemson and Swinney rewarded several football assistants Wednesday with raises totaling $450,000. The compensation committee of the Clemson board of trustees approved the proposal of athletic director Terry Don Phillips.

Get the latest college football recruiting news from Scout.com.

More than 60 percent of the raises or about $265,000 will come from Swinney, who reassigned a bonus for winning the Atlantic Coast Conference this past season. The rest is from the athletic department. The increased salaries will last for two seasons.

”We have a great staff and I want to do everything I can to keep it together at a critical time in our program,” Swinney said. ”We have a young, but talented team and I feel we have a chance to do something very special in the near future.”

Co-defensive coordinator Charlie Harbison and defensive ends coach Marion Hobby will earn $375,000. Defensive line coach Dan Brooks, tight ends coach Danny Pearman and offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell will make $310,000. Recievers coach Jeff Scott will earn $215,000 and running backs coach Tony Elliott $205,000.

Strength coach Joey Batson will make $200,000.

Throw in the previously announced increase of offensive coordinator Chad Morris to $1.3 million and new defensive coordinator Brent Venables’ $800,000 salary and Clemson will pay its football assistants $4.2 million, which the school said is somewhere between 12th and 15th nationally.

Morris, who reenergized the Tigers offense this season, is the country’s highest paid coordinator. Morris agreed to the new deal shortly after the Tigers won their first ACC title in 20 years by defeating Virginia Tech, 38-10, in the championship game last December.

Venables was brought on last month as a replacement for Kevin Steele, who agreed to leave after Clemson’s 70-33 loss to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl. The Mountaineers set a bowl record for points scored.

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Swinney was as angered about the Orange Bowl embarrassment as anyone. But he’s continually said Clemson’s program is heading in the right direction – the Tigers have won two ACC Atlantic Division titles in addition to the ACC championship – and can accomplish much more in the next few years.

Phillips said Swinney had the flexibility built into his contract to re-direct money to his staff. ”Coach Swinney has opted to invest in the stability of the program with money he earned in 2011,” Phillips said.

Swinney is scheduled to earn $1.9 million next month, which the school said puts him 46th nationally.

Clemson won 10 games last fall for the first time since 1990. The Tigers 8-0 start included consecutive victories against 2010 national champion Auburn, 2010 ACC Atlantic winner Florida State and 2010 ACC champion Virginia Tech.

Clemson, though, couldn’t sustain its hot start, losing four of its final six games including the Orange Bowl debacle.

Swinney said the Tigers will be young again next fall with 60 of its 85 scholarship players either freshmen or sophomores. They will have just 11 seniors on the roster. They will have to replace several playmakers including record-setting tight end Dwayne Allen and ACC sack leader Andre Branch, both who are projected as first-round picks in next spring’s NFL draft.

But Clemson does return quarterback Tajh Boyd, All-American receiver Sammy Watkins and 1,000-yard rusher Andre Ellington to Morris’ high-speed attack.

Swinney is ready for the challenge.

”It’s really exciting to me because we are built to make a run,” he said.

Article source: http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/Several-Clemson-football-assistant-coaches-rewarded-with-raises-totaling-450K-021612

Clemson and Swinney rewarded several football assistants Wednesday with
raises totaling $450,000. The compensation committee of the Clemson board of
trustees approved the proposal of athletic director Terry Don Phillips.

More than 60 percent of the raises or about $265,000 will come from Swinney,
who reassigned a bonus for winning the Atlantic Coast Conference this past
season. The rest is from the athletic department. The increased salaries will
last for two seasons.

“We have a great staff and I want to do everything I can to keep it
together at a critical time in our program,” Swinney said. “We have a young,
but talented team and I feel we have a chance to do something very special in
the near future.”

Co-defensive coordinator Charlie Harbison and defensive ends coach Marion
Hobby will earn $375,000. Defensive line coach Dan Brooks, tight ends coach
Danny Pearman and offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell will make $310,000.
Recievers coach Jeff Scott will earn $215,000 and running backs coach Tony
Elliott $205,000.

Strength coach Joey Batson will make $200,000.

Throw in the previously announced increase of offensive coordinator Chad
Morris to $1.3 million and new defensive coordinator Brent Venables’ $800,000
salary and Clemson will pay its football assistants $4.2 million, which the
school said is somewhere between 12th and 15th nationally.

Morris, who reenergized the Tigers offense this season, is the country’s
highest paid coordinator. Morris agreed to the new deal shortly after the Tigers
won their first ACC title in 20 years by defeating Virginia Tech, 38-10, in the
championship game last December.

Venables was brought on last month as a replacement for Kevin Steele, who
agreed to leave after Clemson’s 70-33 loss to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl.
The Mountaineers set a bowl record for points scored.

Swinney was as angered about the Orange Bowl embarrassment as anyone. But
he’s continually said Clemson’s program is heading in the right direction—the
Tigers have won two ACC Atlantic Division titles in addition to the ACC
championship—and can accomplish much more in the next few years.

Phillips said Swinney had the flexibility built into his contract to
re-direct money to his staff. “Coach Swinney has opted to invest in the
stability of the program with money he earned in 2011,” Phillips said.

Swinney is scheduled to earn $1.9 million next month, which the school said
puts him 46th nationally.

Clemson won 10 games last fall for the first time since 1990. The Tigers 8-0
start included consecutive victories against 2010 national champion Auburn, 2010
ACC Atlantic winner Florida State and 2010 ACC champion Virginia Tech.

Clemson, though, couldn’t sustain its hot start, losing four of its final
six games including the Orange Bowl debacle.

Swinney said the Tigers will be young again next fall with 60 of its 85
scholarship players either freshmen or sophomores. They will have just 11
seniors on the roster. They will have to replace several playmakers including
record-setting tight end Dwayne Allen and ACC sack leader Andre Branch, both who
are projected as first-round picks in next spring’s NFL draft.

But Clemson does return quarterback Tajh Boyd, All-American receiver Sammy
Watkins and 1,000-yard rusher Andre Ellington to Morris’ high-speed attack.

Swinney is ready for the challenge.

“It’s really exciting to me because we are built to make a run,” he said.

Article source: http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=ap-clemson-footballassistants

COLUMBIA, S.C. –Clemson coach Dabo Swinney thinks he’s got one of the best staffs in college football. After Wednesday, he’s got one of the best paid, too.

Clemson and Swinney rewarded several football assistants Wednesday with raises totaling $450,000. The compensation committee of the Clemson board of trustees approved the proposal of athletic director Terry Don Phillips.

More than 60 percent of the raises or about $265,000 will come from Swinney, who reassigned a bonus for winning the Atlantic Coast Conference this past season. The rest is from the athletic department. The increased salaries will last for two seasons.

“We have a great staff and I want to do everything I can to keep it together at a critical time in our program,” Swinney said. “We have a young, but talented team and I feel we have a chance to do something very special in the near future.”

Co-defensive coordinator Charlie Harbison and defensive ends coach Marion Hobby will earn $375,000. Defensive line coach Dan Brooks, tight ends coach Danny Pearman and offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell will make $310,000. Recievers coach Jeff Scott will earn $215,000 and running backs coach Tony Elliott $205,000.

Strength coach Joey Batson will make $200,000.

Throw in the previously announced increase of offensive coordinator Chad Morris to $1.3 million and new defensive coordinator Brent Venables’ $800,000 salary and Clemson will pay its football assistants $4.2 million, which the school said is somewhere between 12th and 15th nationally.

Morris, who reenergized the Tigers offense this season, is the country’s highest paid coordinator. Morris agreed to the new deal shortly after the Tigers won their first ACC title in 20 years by defeating Virginia Tech, 38-10, in the championship game last December.

Venables was brought on last month as a replacement for Kevin Steele, who agreed to leave after Clemson’s 70-33 loss to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl. The Mountaineers set a bowl record for points scored.

Swinney was as angered about the Orange Bowl embarrassment as anyone. But he’s continually said Clemson’s program is heading in the right direction – the Tigers have won two ACC Atlantic Division titles in addition to the ACC championship — and can accomplish much more in the next few years.

Phillips said Swinney had the flexibility built into his contract to re-direct money to his staff. “Coach Swinney has opted to invest in the stability of the program with money he earned in 2011,” Phillips said.

Swinney is scheduled to earn $1.9 million next month, which the school said puts him 46th nationally.

Clemson won 10 games last fall for the first time since 1990. The Tigers 8-0 start included consecutive victories against 2010 national champion Auburn, 2010 ACC Atlantic winner Florida State and 2010 ACC champion Virginia Tech.

Clemson, though, couldn’t sustain its hot start, losing four of its final six games including the Orange Bowl debacle.

Swinney said the Tigers will be young again next fall with 60 of its 85 scholarship players either freshmen or sophomores. They will have just 11 seniors on the roster. They will have to replace several playmakers including record-setting tight end Dwayne Allen and ACC sack leader Andre Branch, both who are projected as first-round picks in next spring’s NFL Draft.

But Clemson does return quarterback Tajh Boyd, All-American receiver Sammy Watkins and 1,000-yard rusher Andre Ellington to Morris’ high-speed attack.

Swinney is ready for the challenge.

“It’s really exciting to me because we are built to make a run,” he said.

Article source: http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/17281559/clemson-assistants-awarded-raises-totaling-450k/rss

Swinney asked for – and received – an incentive-laden deal which rewarded success. He was guaranteed only $800,000 annually (among the lowest-paid ACC head coaches), but incentive clauses that would kick in following ACC Atlantic Division and ACC titles would pay handsomely.

It also allowed Clemson to give assistant coaches competitive salaries – like Kevin Steele, who bolted SEC power Alabama to become Swinney’s defensive coordinator.

Over three years later, his gamble has paid off. 2009’s Atlantic Division title boosted his annual salary to $1.75 million, and last fall’s ACC title – which triggered a clause bumping his salary to the average of the top seven ACC coaches – was expected to pay him around $2.2 million.

Instead, Swinney will earn about $1.9 million next fall.

He did nothing wrong; this was his choice.

Clemson announced Wednesday night that eight assistants (seven on-field, plus head strength and conditioning coach Joey Batson) will receive $450,000 in raises and guaranteed two-year contracts.

While $185,000 of that total came from Clemson’s athletic department, $265,000 (59 percent) came from Swinney’s incentive bonus ; he exercised a contract clause allowing him to redirect his personal money for staff enrichment.

It is the latest sign that Swinney and Clemson are committed to building a championship program – and even making a few sacrifices along the way.

“If we do this with the assistants, then that means the head coach doesn’t make as much,” Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips recently told Clemson’s faculty senate during an informational visit.

The ACC’s new television contract with ESPN has allowed the Tigers to spend lavishly.

As a staff, Clemson’s assistants will make $4.2 million in 2012, a program record. Only six programs nationally paid their assistants more than $3 million in 2011, and five were in the SEC.

Three years ago, Clemson’s total staff compensation was $2.7 million. This fall? $6.1 million. That number will rank in the top 15 nationally.

Throw in the buyouts being paid to former head coach Tommy Bowden ($3.5 million over six years) and Steele ($1.35 million over two years) and that number rises to $7.36 million.

Clemson’s coordinators alone will make $2.1 million. Offensive coordinator Chad Morris signed a six-year deal worth $1.3 million annually after hot pursuit from a number of programs, including Ohio State. And defensive coordinator Brent Venables will make $800,000 after Swinney hired him away from Oklahoma to replace Steele.

Morris will be the nation’s highest-paid coordinator, and Venables will be No.3.

None of it would be possible without Swinney’s willingness to share the wealth. He’s no dummy. Four years ago, he was making $200,000 as a receivers coach; he still lives in the same home, right next to Morris and director of player relations Jeff Davis.

$1.9 million still goes a long way in Clemson, anyway.

His commitment mirrors that of his superiors; Clemson has spent lavishly on facilities in the past 10 years. Memorial Stadium now boasts a $50 million WestZone addition with club seating, football offices and locker rooms; a $15 million addition is on its way in 2013, and crews are putting the finishing touches on a training table which will improve Clemson’s nutrition.

Across Perimeter Road, a $10 million indoor practice facility will rise next fall.

In three-plus years on the job, Swinney has produced results, with two division titles and the program’s first ACC title since 1991.

His hope is that a rising tide will lift all boats.

So far, the philosophy is paying off.

Article source: http://www.orangeandwhite.com/news/2012/feb/16/dabo-swinneys-generous-nature-moving-clemson-forwa/?partner=yahoo_feeds

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has taken it upon himself — basically out of his own pocket — to give his assistants raises.

There is a clause in Swinney’s contract stating that if he won the ACC, he would rise to a certain level from a salary standpoint among ACC coaches. When he won the 2011 title, that meant this year’s contract would increase by $422,000. He is taking $265,000 of that to give to his coaches. Technically, it’s an allocation — not money he has already received. It is money he would have received — and that is the key difference between what Swinney is doing and what Georgia coach Mark Richt did.

Regardless, it’s a true investment in his program — one I’ve never heard of or seen elsewhere in the college coaching ranks — and odds are it will pay off. It is proof of the literal value of coaching stability.

Swinney’s decision stems from today’s announcement that the Compensation Committee of the Clemson Board of Trustees approved a proposal from athletic director Terry Don Phillips to grant salary increases totaling $450,000 for seven assistant football coaches, and the head strength coach. It will be in effect for two years, and 60 percent of that money is coming from Swinney. The remaining 40 percent, or $185,000 will be provided by the athletic department.

According to the school’s release, Swinney is expected to make $1.9 million in 2012, which will rank 46th nationally according to the most recent data available to Phillips. The staff, including the head coach, is expected to rank between 12th and 15th.

“Coach Swinney has opted to invest in the stability of the program with money he earned in 2011,” Phillips said in a prepared statement. “We have a young football team returning for 2012 and 2013 and he felt it was imperative to have stability from a staff standpoint. These are all options that had been in his existing contract.”

“I am extremely grateful to the Board of Trustees for its approval of these salary increases,” Swinney said in the release. “We have a great staff and I want to do everything I can to keep it together at a critical time in our program. We have a young, but talented team and I feel we have a chance to do something very special in the near future.”

Earlier, it was announced that offensive coordinator Chad Morris would earn $1.3 million and defensive coordinator Brent Venables would earn $800,000 during the 2012 season, meaning Clemson’s nine full-time assistant coaches will earn $4.2 million.

Here is the official run-down of the remaining staff salaries recently approved by the Board of Trustees:

Joey Batson (strength coach) $200,000

Dan Brooks $310,000

Robbie Caldwell $310,000

Tony Elliott $205,000

Charlie Harbison $375,000

Marion Hobby $375,000

Danny Pearman $310,000

Jeff Scott $215,000

Article source: http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/36703/dabo-swinney-invests-in-his-program

To keep a strong staff happy and intact, the Tigers’ head coach decided to share the wealth.

Clemson announced Wednesday night that eight assistants (seven on-field assistants and head strength and conditioning coach Joey Batson) would receive raises totaling $450,000. Each of those contracts will be two-year deals.

Over 60 percent of that money, $265,000 in all, will be supplied by Swinney, who exercised a contract clause that allows him to reassign incentives he has earned to his assistants.

The other 40 percent ($185,000) will be provided by the athletic department. Swinney will make $1.9 million in 2012, up from $1.75 million in 2011. He could have made as much as $2.2 million, thanks to a clause that set his salary at the average of the ACC’s top seven coaches should he win an ACC title. Clemson said his salary is expected to rank 46th nationally among Division I-A head coaches.

“Coach Swinney has opted to invest in the stability of the program with money he earned in 2011,” Clemson Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips said in a statement. “We have a young football team returning for 2012 and 2013 and he felt it was imperative to have stability from a staff standpoint.”

Swinney said he was “extremely grateful” to Clemson’s Board of Trustees for approving the salary hikes.

“We have a great staff and I want to do everything I can to keep it together at a critical time in our program,” he said. “We have a young, but talented team and I feel we have a chance to do something very special in the near future.”

Despite a 70-33 Orange Bowl loss to West Virginia, Clemson finished the season 10-4, with its most wins since 1990. Four of those wins were against top-25 teams, a program-high.

Co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Charlie Harbison received a raise to $375,000, the same amount that defensive ends coach Marion Hobby will make. Defensive line coach Dan Brooks will make $310,000, as will offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell and tight ends/tackles/special teams coach Danny Pearman. Recruiting coordinator Jeff Scott will make $215,000, while running backs coach Tony Elliott will make $205,000. Batson will make $200,000.

Clemson will also boast two of the nation’s top three salaries for coordinators. Offensive coordinator Chad Morris will make $1.3 million this season, while new defensive coordinator Brent Venables will make $800,000. Morris is the nation’s top-paid coordinator, while Venables is No.3.

As a staff, the Tigers’ assistants will make $4.2 million. Clemson’s total staff compensation is expected to rank between 12th and 15th nationally.

“These actions reflect a commitment to the football program and its pursuit to be one of the best programs in the country,” said David Wilkins, Chairman of the Clemson Board of Trustees.

Article source: http://www.orangeandwhite.com/news/2012/feb/15/dabo-swinney-shares-the-wealth-to-fuel-raises/?partner=yahoo_feeds

ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich writes about all things ACC in the conference blog.

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Article source: http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7582347/clemson-tigers-part-dabo-swinney-acc-bonus-going-assistants