CLEMSON – While Clemson has yet to make any official announcements regarding changes to its coaching staff, signs are pointing to Dabo Swinney shaking up the defensive coordinator role. If this happens, the search for a replacement may not require a long journey—Swimney might find his new defensive leader just a few steps away at the Allen Reeves Football Complex.
According to recent reports, Swinney is on the lookout for a seasoned defensive mind, and he may already have the perfect candidate on his team. Enter Lorenzo Ward, the former South Carolina defensive coordinator, who joined Clemson’s staff last spring as a special assistant to the head coach and assistant linebackers coach.
Ward’s résumé speaks volumes: from 2009 to 2015, he led South Carolina’s defense to some of the best units in the country. After his time in Columbia, he spent five years as the defensive coordinator at Chattanooga, followed by a stint at Louisville as defensive backs coach and associate head coach. His tenure at South Carolina was marked by the program’s most successful four-year stretch, including three consecutive 11-2 seasons from 2011 to 2013.
A former player at Alabama, Ward also coached under Steve Spurrier at South Carolina and was part of a staff that helped build a legacy in Gamecock football. Now entering his 34th year in coaching, Ward’s wealth of experience includes two years as an assistant coach with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, making him a well-rounded candidate for the job.
Could Swinney already have the ideal defensive coordinator right under his roof? Stay tuned as this intriguing possibility continues to unfold.
