It appears that Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney will be moving on from defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin, multiple sources reported.
Goodwin took over for longtime defensive coordinator Brent Venables three seasons ago after Venables left to become the head coach at Oklahoma. However, Goodwin’s tenure has fallen short of the lofty expectations set by his predecessor.
Clemson’s defense experienced significant struggles in 2024 under Goodwin. The Tigers ranked ninth in the ACC and 69th nationally, allowing an average of 374.1 yards per game. Their scoring defense fared only slightly better, ranking sixth in the conference and tied for 53rd nationally by surrendering 23.4 points per game. The most alarming aspect of Clemson’s defensive performance was its inability to stop the run. Clemson allowed 4.7 yards per carry and 160.7 rushing yards per game, marking their worst run defense since 1975 , according to Clemson Insider. The Tigers also struggled to limit explosive plays, giving up 73 plays of 20 or more yards, which tied for 126th nationally.