Dabo’s Search for Defensive Excellence

Clemson’s search for a defensive coordinator led them to a familiar name in college football circles: Tom Allen. The former Penn State defensive coordinator and Indiana head coach was introduced in Tiger Town on Wednesday alongside Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney. The press conference marked the beginning of a new era for a defense seeking redemption after a disappointing finish to the 2025 season.

Swinney opened the session, acknowledging Wes Goodwin’s work as Clemson’s outgoing defensive coordinator while also taking the blame for the unconventional hire after Brent Venables left to be the head coach at Oklahoma three years ago.

“The first thing I would say is again, as I said in my statement, how much I love Wes Goodwin and his family and thankful for the job that he did,” Swinney said. “Unbelievable work ethic; nobody works harder or works harder than Wes. It just didn’t work, and that’s my fault, simple as that.”

The Tigers’ 2024 campaign ended with a 38-24 loss to Texas in the College Football Playoff, a game in which Clemson’s defense surrendered 292 rushing yards. For Swinney, that performance underscored the need for a change.

“My job is to make sure that we are doing everything we can to be the best version of ourselves year in and year out,” he explained. “I felt like I needed to have a change in leadership on the defensive side this year. So I decided to make that change.”

The hiring process was deliberate and thorough. Swinney described how he consulted a wide range of football minds, from college coaches to NFL executives, before narrowing his list of candidates.

“I called a lot of people that I know and trust,” he said. “I got it down from 10 to 12 to 5, and then really did a real deep dive there. Got it down to 3, and then I got it down to 2,” Swinney said of the process.

Ultimately, it was Allen who stood out. “The only coach that I had to reach out to to gauge interest was this guy,” Swinney revealed. “Everybody else I wanted to reach out to, I didn’t have to do that because they either contacted me directly or through their representation. So literally, the only guy I had to gauge interest in was Coach Allen.”

Allen’s résumé and leadership qualities made a strong impression. “I felt like he’s a great coach,” Swinney said. “He’s a great leader of men. Has been for a long time. I love his background. I love his track record. Highly, highly recommended from some of the best people in this business.”

For Allen, the move to Clemson represents a chance to lead a defense with a rich tradition. After successful stints at Penn State and Indiana, he’ll now be tasked with maintaining and elevating Clemson’s standard of excellence. Swinney’s expectations remain high, pointing to the program’s success in the College Football Playoff era.

“We’ve been to seven CFPs in the past ten years,” he noted. “Six Final Fours, four Final Twos, and two National Championships. We’ve done a lot of great things and we’ve created a high standard and high expectations.”

The press conference also touched on Swinney and Allen’s shared history, albeit a brief one.

“We knew each other a little bit,” Swinney said. “He was an interim at Indiana, and when he got that job, he reached out to me and we kind of communicated a little, texted a little here and there while he was the head coach at Indiana.”

Allen now steps into a role that will test his defensive philosophy right from the start. Clemson opens the 2025 season against LSU, a matchup that promises to be an early litmus test for the Tigers’ new-look defense. “Nothing like opening up with LSU and an opener to see what he’s got,” Swinney said with a smile. “Should be a fun offseason.”

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