With the transfer portal closing, all eyes are on Clemson as head coach Dabo Swinney gears up for a massive shake-up on his defensive coaching staff. After the Tigers’ performance this season, rumors have been swirling about a major change at defensive coordinator, and it looks like Swinney is indeed preparing to make a move.
Multiple sources have confirmed that defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin’s time at Clemson could be coming to an end, with speculation pointing toward a reunion with former Tigers defensive coordinator Brent Venables at Oklahoma. Goodwin may be heading to join Venables’ staff in Norman, adding another layer to the ongoing transition at Clemson.
Adding fuel to the fire, reports are also surfacing that Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Zac Alley could be heading to West Virginia to take on a new role as defensive coordinator under Rich Rodriguez. Alley, a Clemson grad, has been linked to the Clemson job as well, given his history with the Tigers, including his work as a student assistant and graduate assistant during Clemson’s national title runs in 2016 and 2018.
Alley’s time at Oklahoma this past season helped the Sooners boast their best defensive performance since 2009, making him a potential candidate to return to Clemson as defensive coordinator. But it seems Swinney is leaning toward bringing in a more experienced coach to lead the defense—likely someone with a strong track record, similar to how he added veteran offensive line coach Matt Luke last year.
While cornerbacks coach Mike Reed, who has been with Swinney since 2013 and now serves as assistant head coach, could be in the mix, the word is Swinney is aiming for a bigger name to take charge of Clemson’s defense. Stay tuned, because big changes are coming to the Tigers’ defensive staff!
