Friday Night Clemson Coaching Update
Clemson, Friday — It’s been a whirlwind week inside the Allen Reeves Football Complex as plans for Clemson’s football program continue to unfold. Head coach Dabo Swinney has held team meetings with players and coaching staff, followed by individual conversations with players. With so many moving pieces, The Clemson Insider has leaned on strong sourcing to bring you the freshest information available.
Here’s the latest on Swinney’s staff and the shifts around him.
As The Clemson Insider reported earlier this week, more Clemson coaches may follow John Grass to Samford. On Thursday, it was confirmed that assistant Mickey Conn will join Grass in Birmingham, with further departures possible.
Speaking of earlier headlines, Wednesday’s reporting indicated Swinney is actively evaluating potential replacements for an offensive coordinator, since Garrett Riley is not expected to return for the 2026 season. Although nothing has been officially announced, Riley’s departure could be voluntary as he explores other opportunities.
In any organization undergoing major changes, leaders often begin compiling a pool of candidates before a decision is finalized. This helps gauge interest and readiness from potential hires and keeps options open.
In our Wednesday piece, we noted Clemson had expressed interest in an ACC offensive coordinator currently in the mix. Thanks to solid sourcing, we can confirm that the targeted coach was former Georgia Tech offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner.
As discussed in that report, timing was crucial for Clemson because another SEC program was also pursuing Faulkner as their top choice. Faulkner eventually accepted the role of Florida’s new offensive coordinator on Thursday, aligning with that SEC pursuit.
It isn’t surprising that Swinney is evaluating coaching candidates at this juncture. This period is pivotal for coaches with the transfer portal window set to open January 2 and run through January 16. Many players will already be weighing their options before the portal officially opens, accelerating movement once it does. With only one portal window in place, Clemson’s roster needs will be addressed promptly in January.
That reality makes it essential for the coaching staff to be in place ahead of the portal window opening. Historically, Swinney has waited until after bowl season to implement staff changes. However, Clemson remains a candidate in the Sun Bowl, slated for December 31, which heightens the need for timely decisions.
Swinney’s diligence is focused on ensuring the staff is ready to maximize portal activity as soon as the window opens, preserving momentum and strategic advantage for the program.
