Dabo Swinney
Encyclopedia
William Christopher "Dabo" Swinney (born November 20, 1969) is the head coach
of the Clemson University
Tigers football team; he was previously assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.
, and attended the University of Alabama
, where he joined the Crimson Tide football
program as a walk-on wide receiver
in 1989. Swinney earned a scholarship and lettered on three teams (1990–1992), including the Crimson Tide's 1992 National Championship team
. During his time as an undergraduate at Alabama, he was twice named an Academic All-SEC and SEC Scholar Athlete Honor Roll member. He received his degree in commerce & business administration in 1993. He also received a master's degree in business administration from Alabama in 1995.
's staff in early 2001.
Swinney sat out the 2001 season while receiving his contractual payments from Alabama. His former strength coach at Alabama, Rich Wingo
, had become president of Birmingham
-based AIG Baker Real Estate and offered him a job. From April 2001 through February 2003, he did not coach and instead worked for AIG Baker Real Estate on development projects in Alabama.
, made an offer for him to join his staff and coach wide receivers at Clemson, and Swinney joined in 2003. He took over as Recruiting Coordinator from popular longtime coordinator Rick Stockstill
. Swinney proved to be both an excellent wide receivers coach as well as recruiting coordinator, coaching ACC
-leading receivers and being named one of the nation's top 25 recruiters in 2007 by Rivals.com
. In January 2007, he was approached by new Alabama head coach Nick Saban
about rejoining the Crimson Tide, but Swinney opted to stay with the Tigers.
Swinney was named the interim head football coach on October 13, 2008, after previous head coach Tommy Bowden
resigned six games into the 2008 season
. The Tigers had started the year ranked #9 in the preseason polls, but then went 3–3 (1–2 ACC) in their first six games. Swinney was surprised by his promotion; at the time he was informed he was working with the wide receivers on their upcoming game.
With a reputation as a top-notch recruiter enjoying a good rapport with both boosters
and the media, Swinney was chosen over Clemson defensive coordinator
Vic Koenning
, former head coach of Wyoming
, and associate head coach Brad Scott
, former head coach of South Carolina
. Swinney's first actions as interim head coach were to fire offensive coordinator Rob Spence
and introduce a new tradition, the "Tiger Walk", where all players and coaches walk through the parking lot outside Memorial Stadium
about two hours before a game as they head inside for final game preparations. On November 1, 2008, Swinney claimed his first victory as the Tigers' head coach by defeating Boston College, breaking Clemson's 50 year winless streak (totaling 6 games over that span of years) against the Eagles. On November 29, 2008, Swinney coached Clemson to a 31-14 win over South Carolina in the annual rivalry game, after which Clemson became bowl eligible, and the Swinney's interim status was removed. During the 2009 season, Swinney's first full season at the helm, Clemson finished the season with a record of 9-5, won the Atlantic Division title of the Atlantic Coast Conference, defeated Kentucky 21-13 in the 2009 Music City Bowl, and finished the season ranked in the top 25.
On December 1, 2008, Swinney received a five-year contract to become Clemson's full-time head coach.
In 2010, Swinney came under fire after leading Clemson to a 6-7 season, including a second consecutive loss to rival South Carolina, 29-7 in the home finale at Death Valley. The Tigers followed that performance with a loss to South Florida in the 2010 Meineke Car Care Bowl.
was given to him as an infant by his parents when his then-15-month-old brother would try to enunciate "that boy" when referring to Swinney. He married the former Kathleen Bassett in 1994 and has three sons.
Swinney's desk at Clemson features a sign that notes "There is nothing less important than the score at halftime." While in college at the University of Alabama, Swinney was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
Tigers football team; he was previously assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.
Playing career
Swinney was raised in Pelham, AlabamaPelham, Alabama
Pelham is a city and suburb of Birmingham in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 14,369, but has grown to 21,352 recorded by the 2010 census. It was named for famed Confederate American Civil War officer John Pelham...
, and attended the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, where he joined the Crimson Tide football
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
program as a walk-on wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
in 1989. Swinney earned a scholarship and lettered on three teams (1990–1992), including the Crimson Tide's 1992 National Championship team
1992 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 1992 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1992 college football season. This was the team's third season under head coach Gene Stallings. They played their home games at both Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Legion Field in Birmingham,...
. During his time as an undergraduate at Alabama, he was twice named an Academic All-SEC and SEC Scholar Athlete Honor Roll member. He received his degree in commerce & business administration in 1993. He also received a master's degree in business administration from Alabama in 1995.
Alabama
After graduation, Swinney joined the Alabama coaching staff as a graduate assistant, serving from 1993–1995. In December 1995 he received his M.B.A from Alabama and became a full-time coach of the Crimson Tide, in charge of wide receivers and tight ends. He was fired with all of head coach Mike DuBoseMike DuBose
Mike DuBose is a former University of Alabama football player and the current defensive line coach for the Memphis Tigers. DuBose came to Memphis from Millsaps College, where he was the Majors' head coach from 2006 to 2009. He resurrected the school's struggling football program by winning...
's staff in early 2001.
Swinney sat out the 2001 season while receiving his contractual payments from Alabama. His former strength coach at Alabama, Rich Wingo
Rich Wingo
Rich Wingo is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played five seasons for the Green Bay Packers from 1979 to 1984...
, had become president of Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
-based AIG Baker Real Estate and offered him a job. From April 2001 through February 2003, he did not coach and instead worked for AIG Baker Real Estate on development projects in Alabama.
Clemson
In 2002, his former position coach at Alabama, Tommy BowdenTommy Bowden
Tommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008...
, made an offer for him to join his staff and coach wide receivers at Clemson, and Swinney joined in 2003. He took over as Recruiting Coordinator from popular longtime coordinator Rick Stockstill
Rick Stockstill
-External links:* at GoBlueRaiders.com...
. Swinney proved to be both an excellent wide receivers coach as well as recruiting coordinator, coaching ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
-leading receivers and being named one of the nation's top 25 recruiters in 2007 by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
. In January 2007, he was approached by new Alabama head coach Nick Saban
Nick Saban
Nicholas Lou "Nick" Saban is the head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team. Saban has previously served as head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and three other NCAA universities: LSU, Michigan State and Toledo...
about rejoining the Crimson Tide, but Swinney opted to stay with the Tigers.
Swinney was named the interim head football coach on October 13, 2008, after previous head coach Tommy Bowden
Tommy Bowden
Tommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008...
resigned six games into the 2008 season
2008 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2008 Clemson football team represented Clemson University in the 2008 college football season. The Tigers were led by oft-maligned head coach Tommy Bowden, who resigned six games into his tenth season. The interim head coach was assistant coach Dabo Swinney...
. The Tigers had started the year ranked #9 in the preseason polls, but then went 3–3 (1–2 ACC) in their first six games. Swinney was surprised by his promotion; at the time he was informed he was working with the wide receivers on their upcoming game.
With a reputation as a top-notch recruiter enjoying a good rapport with both boosters
Booster club
A booster club is an organization that is formed to support an associated club, sports team, or organization. Booster clubs are popular in American schools at the high school and university level...
and the media, Swinney was chosen over Clemson defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
Vic Koenning
Vic Koenning
-External links:*...
, former head coach of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
, and associate head coach Brad Scott
Brad Scott (American football)
Brad Scott was the associate head coach and offensive line coach for the Clemson Tigers football team. Previously, from 1994 to 1998, he was the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks.-Career:...
, former head coach of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
. Swinney's first actions as interim head coach were to fire offensive coordinator Rob Spence
Rob Spence
Rob Spence is the former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Syracuse under Doug Marrone. S\ Prior to coming to Syracuse, he served as offensive coordinator at Clemson, Toledo, Louisiana Tech, and Hofstra. From 1992-1996, he coached quarterbacks at Maryland under Mark Duffner...
and introduce a new tradition, the "Tiger Walk", where all players and coaches walk through the parking lot outside Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium, Clemson
Frank Howard Field at Memorial Stadium, popularly known as Death Valley, is home to the Clemson University Tigers, a NCAA Division I-A football team, located in Clemson, South Carolina...
about two hours before a game as they head inside for final game preparations. On November 1, 2008, Swinney claimed his first victory as the Tigers' head coach by defeating Boston College, breaking Clemson's 50 year winless streak (totaling 6 games over that span of years) against the Eagles. On November 29, 2008, Swinney coached Clemson to a 31-14 win over South Carolina in the annual rivalry game, after which Clemson became bowl eligible, and the Swinney's interim status was removed. During the 2009 season, Swinney's first full season at the helm, Clemson finished the season with a record of 9-5, won the Atlantic Division title of the Atlantic Coast Conference, defeated Kentucky 21-13 in the 2009 Music City Bowl, and finished the season ranked in the top 25.
On December 1, 2008, Swinney received a five-year contract to become Clemson's full-time head coach.
In 2010, Swinney came under fire after leading Clemson to a 6-7 season, including a second consecutive loss to rival South Carolina, 29-7 in the home finale at Death Valley. The Tigers followed that performance with a loss to South Florida in the 2010 Meineke Car Care Bowl.
Personal
Swinney's nicknameNickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
was given to him as an infant by his parents when his then-15-month-old brother would try to enunciate "that boy" when referring to Swinney. He married the former Kathleen Bassett in 1994 and has three sons.
Swinney's desk at Clemson features a sign that notes "There is nothing less important than the score at halftime." While in college at the University of Alabama, Swinney was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
Head coaching record
- – Took over midseason from Tommy BowdenTommy BowdenTommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008...
, who resigned on Oct. 13, 2008.