Dabo Swinney’s Top 10 Assistant Coaching Hires: No. 7 Tom Allen

Clemson’s transformation from a program with promise to a national powerhouse didn’t happen overnight. It was built on vision, culture, recruiting, and above all, great coaching. While Dabo Swinney’s own leadership has defined the Tigers' identity in the midseason of 2008, it’s his assistant hires that have often provided the strategic edge needed to reach the sport’s summit.

Here’s a ranked look at Swinney’s 10 best assistant coaching hires during his Clemson tenure:

No. 7 Tom Allen | Defensive Coordinator (2025–)

Placing Tom Allen on the list was tough, but we wanted to grant some leeway for him to move up or down the list. Based on the job he did at Penn State, we are willing to slide Allen into the No. 7. spot.

In Happy Valley, Allen’s unit was among the nation’s elite, finishing 7th in total defense (294.8 ypg) and 8th in scoring defense (16.5 ppg). Notably, his defense notched two pick-sixes in the CFP First Round matchup with SMU and held a Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty to a season-low 3.47 yards per carry in the quarterfinals against Boise State.

Those metrics plugged directly into Clemson’s current needs, particularly after a tough season against the run, allowing over 160 ypg, their worst since 2011. In fact, the Tigers gave up 4.7 yards per carry, which was the worst by a Clemson defense since the 1975 team allowed 5.3 yards per carry in Wes Goodwin’s final season. Swinney’s move to hire Allen on a three-year, $6 million deal underscores the urgency and belief in what needs to be fixed at Clemson.

What sets Allen apart isn’t just his defensive acumen—it’s his experience as a head coach. From 2017-2023, he led Indiana to its first Big Ten turnaround in decades, earning Big Ten and AFCA National Coach of the Year honors in 2020. There, he orchestrated the Hoosiers’ most impressive single-season defensive improvement in FBS history, slashing yardage and points allowed by unprecedented margins. His record (33-49) reflects struggles later on, but the earlier years revealed his ability to change culture, recruit effectively, and sustain defensive excellence in a challenging conference at a non-traditional football school.

That said, Allen’s spot is “incredibly fluid.” While he currently sits at No. 7, his reputation and success at Penn State position him ahead of other established Clemson assistants. The key to whether he solidifies and climbs this list will be the defenses he constructs during his tenure. Can he resurrect the swagger of a Venables-era unit? With his wealth of coordinator and head coaching experience, the tools are in place. But in college football, proof lives on the field. 

Dabo Swinney’s 10 best assistant coaching hires: 

• No. 8 Dan Brooks | Defensive Tackles Coach (2009–2016)
• No. 9 Robbie Caldwell | Offensive Line Coach (2011–2021)
• No. 10 Todd Bates | Defensive Line Coach (2017–2021)