Clemson names Swinney coach

Dec 1, 2008 - 10:01 PM CLEMSON, South Carolina (Ticker) -- Dabo Swinney did enough over the final six games of the season to make Clemson's decision on its next football head coach an easy one.

Swinney officially was named the Tigers' 25th coach on Monday, when the school removed his interim tag.

"I was very impressed by the way the team responded to his leadership," Tigers athletic director Don Phillips said. "That spoke volumes for his abilities. We are proud to have him represent Clemson as our head football coach."

Swinney was named interim coach on October 13 when Tommy Bowden resigned and posted a 4-2 record, including wins in three of Clemson's final four Atlantic Coast Conference games.

Swinney was in his sixth season as the Tigers' wide receivers coach and his second as assistant head coach when he was promoted following Bowden's departure.

"I have had the opportunity to watch Dabo Swinney closely over the last six years both on and off the field," Phillips said. "He is one of the bright young coaches in America. He took over in a very difficult situation for the last six games and showed me what type of coach and leader he is."

Swinney, who turned 40 in November, emerged as a strong candidate for the job when the Tigers closed the regular season with three straight double-digit wins, including Saturday's 31-14 triumph over rival South Carolina. After that victory, players carried Swinney off the field on their shoulders.

Swinney also has a reputation as a strong recruiter. In February 2006, he was listed as the fifth-best recruiter in the nation by Rivals.com.

"Coach Swinney has demonstrated that he is a very capable coach who is committed to competing athletically at the highest levels while maintaining equally high standards for academic performance and personal development of student-athletes," Clemson president James Barker said.

Prior to coming to Clemson, Swinney served as an assistant coach at Alabama from 1993-2000.

Clemson began the year as the preseason favorite to win the ACC, but suffered a 34-10 season-opening loss to Alabama when it was ranked ninth in the coaches' poll.

Bowden, who never won an ACC title in his 10 seasons at Clemson, was dismissed four days after a 12-7 loss to Wake Forest dropped the Tigers to 3-3.