Stature and coaches, 1936–2026
The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.
DynastyBlue BloodPower ProgramNational ProgramRegional Program
Run↔pass identity, by season
Every coach
Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead.
2008–now
Dabo Swinney Transformer
Dabo Swinney took Clemson from Power Program III to Blue Blood — 1 Dynasty season.
2014 defense ranked in the 100th percentile nationally — elite
vs. South Carolina
+36.1 pts over 19 seasons · top 6% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Barry Alvarez’s Wisconsin run (1990–2005, 2012 (1 game), 2014 (1 game))
1st-best Clemson tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Tommy Bowden (1999–2008).
| Season | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Record | 4-3 | 9-5 | 6-7 | 10-4 | 11-2 | 11-2 | 10-3 | 14-1 | 14-1 | 12-2 | 15-0 | 14-1 | 10-2 | 10-3 | 11-3 | 9-4 | 10-4 | 7-6 | 5-3 | |
| Postseason | L bowl | W bowl | L bowl | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | Title game L | Champion | CFP loss | Champion | Title game L | CFP loss | W bowl | L bowl | W bowl | CFP loss | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #9 | #36 | #27 | #10 | #20 | #14 | #16 | #9 | #11 | #16 | #7 | #10 | #3 | #5 | #10 | #11 | #11 | #26 | #20 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pass rate | 48.1 | 44.0 | 47.2 | 49.8 | 44.6 | 47.5 | 45.6 | 43.7 | 51.6 | 44.8 | 47.2 | 47.3 | 54.4 | 45.9 | 46.6 | 47.5 | 53.0 | 53.6 | 44.9 | |
| Coordinators | ||||||||||||||||||||
| OC | — | — | — | — | — | — | Chad Morris | Jeff Scott / Tony Elliott | Jeff Scott / Tony Elliott | Jeff Scott / Tony Elliott | Jeff Scott / Tony Elliott | Jeff Scott / Tony Elliott | Tony Elliott | Tony Elliott | Brandon Streeter | Garrett Riley | Garrett Riley / Matt Luke | Garrett Riley / Kyle Richardson / Matt Luke | Chad Morris / Kyle Richardson / Matt Luke | |
| DC | — | — | — | — | — | — | Brent Venables | Brent Venables | Brent Venables | Brent Venables | Brent Venables | Brent Venables | Brent Venables | Brent Venables | Mickey Conn / Wes Goodwin | Mickey Conn / Wes Goodwin | Mickey Conn / Wes Goodwin | Tom Allen / Nick Eason | Tom Allen / Nick Eason | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Offense | 16 | 52 | 20 | 45 | 80 | 90 | 25 | 96 | 91 | 77 | 98 | 99 | 93 | 23 | 52 | 27 | 83 | 54 | 8 | |
| Defense | 94 | 80 | 84 | 41 | 88 | 87 | 100 | 95 | 94 | 99 | 100 | 98 | 88 | 97 | 93 | 87 | 51 | 75 | 84 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 42.0 | 31.8 | 37.5 | 41.0 | 42.0 | 46.1 | 41.9 | 39.9 | 47.3 | 38.2 | 42.5 | 43.5 | 52.2 | 41.0 | 46.2 | 46.2 | 54.6 | 51.4 | 48.2 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 40.9 | 35.7 | 34.3 | 38.9 | 27.7 | 32.0 | 28.0 | 35.3 | 45.7 | 28.3 | 35.0 | 34.5 | 35.5 | 31.4 | 32.4 | 35.9 | 44.6 | 39.4 | 37.3 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 33.3 | 22.6 | 19.4 | 27.5 | 22.2 | 36.8 | 25.0 | 20.5 | 41.3 | 20.5 | 36.4 | 16.0 | 20.7 | 24.5 | 25.0 | 32.0 | 31.0 | 42.9 | 23.7 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on offense and outperforms his recruiting talent on defense.
Offense vs. talent
+3.9 pts
#93 of 208 · middle half
Defense vs. talent
+22.1 pts
#28 of 208 · top quarter
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Roster construction · portal era
Barely touches the portal — recruits and develops his own.
Portal arrivals
17
3.1★ avg rating
Portal departures
64
left via the portal
Net portal flow
-47
#179 of 187 FBS stints
Notable portal arrivals with a modeled NIL value
Will Heldt On3 modeled · $1,000,000
On3’s modeled estimate (social reach / exposure), not money actually paid — shown per player, never totaled.
Who they bring in
Typical size for position, once adjusted for position mix.
Recruits younger transfers than most — more of a development bet.
Avg. size (raw)
6′2″, 232 lbs
across 14 of 17 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix
Size vs. position-typical
+4.7 lbs
#113 of 255 · middle half
Avg. class year
So
#251 of 255 · bottom quarter
Top states: FL (4), IN (2), AL (2), GA (2), NC (1)
Who won the portal our read
Talent added
48.1
position-weighted
Talent lost
60.9
position-weighted
Net
-12.8
arrivals minus departures
Best addition: Paul Tyson (QB) from Arizona State
Biggest loss: DJ Uiagalelei (QB) to Oregon State
Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Chad Morris → Jeff Scott (co) / Tony Elliott (co) · 2015
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 41.9% → 39.9% (-2.0 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 86% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: Jeff Scott (co) / Tony Elliott (co) → Tony Elliott · 2020The offense collapsed across the change
2-season window either side.
1st-down pass rate: 43.0% → 46.6% (+3.6 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 76% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: Tony Elliott → Brandon Streeter · 2022
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 41.0% → 46.2% (+5.2 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 46% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: Brandon Streeter → Garrett Riley · 2023
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 46.2% → 46.2% (+0.0 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 55% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: Garrett Riley → Garrett Riley / Matt Luke (co) · 2024
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 46.2% → 54.6% (+8.4 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 77% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: Garrett Riley / Matt Luke (co) → Garrett Riley / Kyle Richardson (co) / Matt Luke (co) · 2025
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 54.6% → 51.4% (-3.3 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 83% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: Garrett Riley / Kyle Richardson (co) / Matt Luke (co) → Chad Morris / Kyle Richardson (co) / Matt Luke (co) · 2026
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 51.4% → 48.2% (-3.1 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 41% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
DC: Brent Venables → Mickey Conn (co) / Wes Goodwin · 2022The system held
2-season window either side.
DC: Mickey Conn (co) / Wes Goodwin → Tom Allen / Nick Eason (co) · 2025The system held
2-season window either side.
Roster size, by position
Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)
Quarterback
222 lbs
6′3″ avg · #129 of 767 · top quarter
Running back
214 lbs
5′11″ avg · #163 of 791 · top quarter
Wide receiver
196 lbs
6′1″ avg · #265 of 791 · middle half
Tight end
243 lbs
6′5″ avg · #451 of 731 · middle half
Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters
Interior line
311 lbs
6′4″ avg · #311 of 779 · middle half
D-line
300 lbs
6′3″ avg · #96 of 753 · top quarter
Edge
260 lbs
6′4″ avg · #57 of 188 · middle half
Linebacker
231 lbs
6′1″ avg · #270 of 772 · middle half
Cornerback
191 lbs
6′0″ avg · #364 of 771 · middle half
Safety
200 lbs
6′0″ avg · #93 of 346 · middle half
Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Punter from high school
100%
#29 of 29 stints
Grows Kicker from high school
100%
#52 of 56 stints
Postseason detail2008: Lost to Nebraska 21-26 Gator Bowl2009: Beat Kentucky 21-13 Bowl2010: Lost to South Florida 26-31 Meineke Car Care Bowl2011: Lost to West Virginia 33-70 Discover Orange Bowl2012: Beat LSU 25-24 Chick-fil-A BOWL2013: Beat Ohio State 40-35 Discover Orange Bowl2014: Beat Oklahoma 40-6 Russell Athletic Bowl2015: Beat Oklahoma 37-17 CFP2015: Lost to Alabama 40-45 Cfp National Championship Game Pres. By At&T2016: Beat Ohio State 31-0 CFP2016: Beat Alabama 35-31 Cfp National Championship Game Presented By At&T2017: Lost to Alabama 6-24 Allstate Sugar Bowl - Cfp Semifinal2018: Beat Notre Dame 30-3 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic - Cfp Semifinal2018: Beat Alabama 44-16 Cfp National Championship Presented By At&T2019: Beat Ohio State 29-23 Playstation Fiesta Bowl - Cfp Semifinal2019: Lost to LSU 25-42 Cfp National Championship Pres. By At&T2020: Lost to Ohio State 28-49 Allstate Sugar Bowl - CFP Semifinal2021: Beat Iowa State 20-13 Cheez-It Bowl2022: Lost to Tennessee 14-31 Capital One Orange Bowl2023: Beat Kentucky 38-35 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl2024: Lost to Texas 24-38 College Football Playoff First Round Game Presented by Allstate2025: Lost to Penn State 10-22 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
95 NFL Draft picks: Dorell Scott (2009), Chris Clemons (2009), Michael Hamlin (2009), James Davis (2009), C.J. Spiller (2010), Jacoby Ford (2010), Ricky Sapp (2010), Crezdon Butler (2010) + 87 more
9 player-seasons honored (All-America / national award): Da'Quan Bowers (2010), Deshaun Watson (2015), Deshaun Watson (2016), Christian Wilkins (2018), Clelin Ferrell (2018), Trevor Lawrence (2020), Travis Etienne (2020), Will Shipley (2022) + 1 more
AI Narratives — “Clemson's defensive reshaping amid roster transitions” and 4 more on the team page.
+36.1
192-56
1999–2008
Tommy Bowden Steady
Tommy Bowden moved the Tigers from National Program I to Power Program III in 10 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
vs. South Carolina
+5.2 pts over 10 seasons · bottom 22% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Lloyd Carr’s Michigan run (1995–2007)
5th-best Clemson tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Tommy West (1993–1998) · succeeded by Dabo Swinney (2008–now).
| Season | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||||
| Record | 6-6 | 9-3 | 7-5 | 7-6 | 9-4 | 6-5 | 8-4 | 8-5 | 9-4 | 3-3 | |
| Postseason | L bowl | L bowl | W bowl | L bowl | W bowl | — | W bowl | L bowl | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | #44 | #15 | #14 | #16 | #9 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | 48.7 | 45.4 | 41.1 | 47.2 | 48.1 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 73 | 68 | 66 | 16 | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | 72 | 79 | 79 | 53 | 94 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | 48.8 | 37.7 | 30.6 | 37.5 | 42.0 | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | 35.8 | 39.8 | 28.1 | 53.4 | 40.9 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | 33.3 | 18.2 | 21.2 | 16.7 | 33.3 | |
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Running back from high school
100%
#196 of 208 stints
Postseason detail1999: Lost to Mississippi State 7-17 Bowl2000: Lost to Virginia Tech 20-41 Bowl2001: Beat Louisiana Tech 49-24 Bowl2002: Lost to Texas Tech 15-55 Bowl2003: Beat Tennessee 27-14 Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl2005: Beat Colorado 19-10 Bowl2006: Lost to Kentucky 20-28 Bowl2007: Lost to Auburn 20-23 Bowl
24 NFL Draft picks: Rod Gardner (2001), Keith Adams (2001), Robert Carswell (2001), Nick Eason (2003), Bryant McNeal (2003), Donnell Washington (2004), Derrick Hamilton (2004), Justin Miller (2005) + 16 more
+5.2
72-45
1993–1998
Tommy West Steady
Tommy West slid Clemson from Power Program II to Power Program III in 5 seasons.
vs. South Carolina
−8.7 pts over 5 seasons · bottom 18% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Mark Duffner’s Maryland run (1992–1996)
4th-best Clemson tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Ken Hatfield (1990–1993) · succeeded by Tommy Bowden (1999–2008).
| Season | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||
| Record | 1-0 | 5-6 | 8-4 | 7-5 | 7-5 | 3-8 | |
| Postseason | W bowl | — | L bowl | L bowl | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Postseason detail1995: Lost to Syracuse 0-41 Bowl1996: Lost to LSU 7-10 Bowl1997: Lost to Auburn 17-21 Bowl
14 NFL Draft picks: Wardell Rouse (1995), Trevor Pryce (1997), Dexter McCleon (1997), Anthony Simmons (1998), Lorenzo Bromell (1998), Raymond Priester (1998), Glenn Rountree (1998), Jim Bundren (1998) + 6 more
−8.7
31-28
1990–1993
Ken Hatfield Inheritor
Ken Hatfield inherited Clemson at Power Program I and saw it slip to Power Program II.
vs. South Carolina
−5.4 pts over 4 seasons · bottom 35% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Don Treadwell’s Miami (OH) run (2011–2013)
3rd-best Clemson tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Danny Ford (1978–1989) · succeeded by Tommy West (1993–1998).
| Season | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||
| Record | 10-2 | 9-2-1 | 5-6 | 8-3 | |
| Postseason | W bowl | L bowl | — | W bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | |
Postseason detail1990: Beat Illinois 30-0 Bowl1991: Lost to California 13-37 Bowl
17 NFL Draft picks: Jerome Henderson (1991), Doug Thomas (1991), John Johnson (1991), Chris Gardocki (1991), Dexter Davis (1991), Vance Hammond (1991), Chester McGlockton (1992), Levon Kirkland (1992) + 9 more
−5.4
32-13-1
1978–1989
Danny Ford Transformer
Danny Ford took the Tigers from National Program II to Power Program I.
vs. South Carolina
+25.5 pts over 11 seasons · top 15% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Gary Patterson’s TCU run (2000–2021)
2nd-best Clemson tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Charley Pell (1977–1978) · succeeded by Ken Hatfield (1990–1993).
| Season | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||||||
| Record | 1-0 | 8-4 | 6-5 | 12-0 | 9-1-1 | 9-1-1 | 7-4 | 6-6 | 8-2-2 | 10-2 | 10-2 | 10-2 | |
| Postseason | W bowl | L bowl | — | W bowl | — | — | — | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | W bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Postseason detail1979: Lost to Baylor 18-24 Bowl1981: Beat Nebraska 22-15 Bowl1985: Lost to Minnesota 13-20 Bowl1986: Beat Stanford 27-21 Bowl1987: Beat Penn State 35-10 Bowl1988: Beat Oklahoma 13-6 Bowl1989: Beat West Virginia 27-7 Bowl
27 NFL Draft picks: Jim Stuckey (1980), Lester Brown (1980), Steve Durham (1981), Obed Ariri (1981), Jeff Bryant (1982), Perry Tuttle (1982), Jeff Davis (1982), Hollis Hall (1982) + 19 more
+25.5
96-29-4
1973–1976
Red Parker Steady
Red Parker slid the Tigers from Regional Program I to Regional Program II in 4 seasons.
vs. South Carolina
−3.6 pts over 4 seasons · bottom 44% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Jerry Baldwin’s Louisiana run (1999–2001)
9th-best Clemson tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Cecil Ingram (1970–1972) · succeeded by Charley Pell (1977–1978).
2 NFL Draft picks: Jay Washington (1974), Bennie Cunningham (1976)
−3.6
17-25-2
1970–1972
Cecil Ingram Steady
Cecil Ingram slid Clemson from National Program II to National Program III in 3 seasons.
vs. South Carolina
−7.2 pts over 3 seasons · bottom 24% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Carl Franks’s Duke run (1999–2003)
8th-best Clemson tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Frank Howard (1940–1969) · succeeded by Red Parker (1973–1976).
3 NFL Draft picks: David Thompson (1971), John McMakin (1972), Rick Harrell (1973)
−7.2
12-21
1940–1969
Frank Howard Steady
Frank Howard moved Clemson from National Program II to Power Program III in 30 seasons.
vs. South Carolina
+9.6 pts over 30 seasons · bottom 38% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Gary Blackney’s Bowling Green run (1991–2000)
6th-best Clemson tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Jess Neely (1936–1939) · succeeded by Cecil Ingram (1970–1972).
+9.6
165-118-12
1936–1939
Jess Neely Steady
Jess Neely held Clemson at National Program II for 4 seasons.
vs. South Carolina
7th-best Clemson tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Succeeded by Frank Howard (1940–1969).
National Program II
25-11-2