Palmetto State News

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney and the program announced a slew of coaching staff changes Dec. 14.

The changes received final approval from the Clemson University Board of Trustees Compensation Committee, according to a university press release.

Defensively, the Tigers elevated senior defensive assistant Wes Goodwin to defensive coordinator/linebackers coach, and created the position of co-defensive coordinator for safeties coach Mickey Conn.

Conn’s new position prompted cornerbacks coach Mike Reed to add the role of special teams coordinator previously held by Conn, while recruiting coordinator/defensive tackles coach Todd Bates has added the title of assistant head coach, the release said.

Offensively, the Tigers promoted Brandon Streeter to offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach and named Kyle Richardson, who had served as director of high school relations and special assistant to the offense, as passing game coordinator/tight ends coach.

“I’m just really, really excited about the people that we have in place,” Swinney said in the release. “I’ve always taken a lot of pride in developing our players and developing our team, but I also take a lot of pride in developing our staff.”

Goodwin first joined Clemson since 2009, starting out as a graduate assistant for two years. Hebecame a full-time member of the coaching staff in 2012.

Before leaving the university to take a job with the Arizona Cardinals in 2014, Goodwin fielded the nation’s top-ranked unit in total defense, third down percentage, first downs allowed and tackles for loss.

Goodwin’s three-year stint as then-Cardinals head coach  Bruce Arians translated into a 28-19-1 record with an appearance in the 2015 NFC Championship Game.

Arians, who led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title last season, praised Goodwin as “one of the best young defensive minds I’ve had the opportunity to work with,” according to the release.

“He was with my staff for three years in Arizona and I saw him grow defensively, and offensively, that whole time,” Arians said. “He has a bright, bright future. One thing is for sure – they are going to be an attacking type of defense and I know he is going to do great things with this opportunity.”

One of the best coaches in Georgia high school football history, Conn is in his sixth season with the Tigers.

Clemson has produced a Top 15 defensive unit each season since Conn’s arrival, according to the release.

Reed has witnessed 12 cornerbacks land on the All-ACC team in nine seasons at the university, and Bates joined the program in 2017 after it defeated Alabama for the national championship.

He has had every primary starter under his tutelage earn at least one career all-conference selection dating back to his time at Jacksonville State, an eight-year span, the university said.

Streeter, who has 14 full seasons at Clemson under his belt, helped groom two Heisman Trophy finalists in Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence.

Watson and Lawrence both commanded the Tigers to national titles.

Richardson, a sixth-year Clemson staff member, has served in numerous capacities.

The release said Richardson helped craft the Tigers offense into one of the most prolific in the nation, being one of only three teams in the country to produce at least 16,000 cumulative rushing yards and at least 23,000 total passing yards in a six-season span.

Swinney’s announcement came on the heels of two departures from the program.

Spartanburg’s WSPA reported that Virginia hired former offensive coordinator Tony Elliott as its head coach while Oklahoma named former defensive coordinator Brent Venables to helm its program.

“I’m happy for those who have received the opportunity to go be head coaches and some of our younger staff and peripheral staff that may have some opportunities to go with them as well, but those changes create opportunity here,” Swinney said, according to the CBS affiliate.