Ad Disclosure
Dabo Swinney confirms Clemson DC Wes Goodwin will not return in 2025
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Dabo Swinney is not retaining Clemson’s defensive coordinator, Wes Goodwin, for the 2025 season. The decision was previously reported with an option for Goodwin to remain at Clemson in a different role, but he will not return to the staff, per Swinney’s announcement.
Goodwin had been Clemson’s DC and linebackers coach since 2022 and was in his 2nd stint with the Tigers. He began as a graduate assistant and later served as a defensive analyst in a stint from 2009-14 before a 3-year stint at Arizona State.
Goodwin returned to Clemson ahead of the 2018 season in a defensive assistant role and was elevated to DC where he served from 2022 until Swinney’s official announcement on Monday. Here is Dabo Swinney’s announcement:
After meeting with Coach Goodwin on Sunday evening, I have decided to make a change at our defensive coordinator position. I want to thank Wes for his character, commitment, leadership and dedication as well as the relentless work ethic with which he approached his job every day. Wes has been a part of our program for 13 of the past 16 years, and he played an instrumental part in all of our success. I love Wes and his family and wish him all the best as he continues his journey. I know he has a bright future ahead.
“I will start the interview process immediately and will hope to have our new defensive coordinator named by the end of the month or sooner. Our staff has been hard at work on our roster, and we look forward to solidifying our defensive coordinator position to help lead this extremely talented group as we pursue our goals for 2025.
Under Brent Venables, the Tigers had become the golden standard for defense in the ACC, winning a pair of national championships with Venables leading the unit. Since he returned to lead Oklahoma, the defense was unable to recapture that same standard under Goodwin.
Over the past 3 seasons, Clemson’s defensive points per game has increased from 20.9 in 2022 to 23.4 this past season. The Tigers tied for 4th in the ACC in that statistic each year of Goodwin’s tenure after traditionally leading the ACC in points allowed per game under Venables.
We’ll see how Dabo Swinney adjusts for the 2025 season after a breakout year for QB Cade Klubnik and a Playoff appearance for the program.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
