Change is coming to Clemson football in 2025 after a disappointing end to their playoff run. In a major shakeup, head coach Dabo Swinney announced Monday that he has fired defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin following the Tigers’ 38-24 loss to Texas in the College Football Playoff.
Defensive Downturn Dooms Goodwin
Goodwin’s dismissal comes on the heels of a steep defensive decline in his third season at the helm. Most glaringly, Clemson surrendered 160.6 rushing yards per game in 2024 – their worst performance against the run in over a decade. The nadir came in that season-ending defeat to Texas, where the Longhorns steamrolled the Tigers for 292 yards on the ground.
It was a far cry from the dominant defenses that were a hallmark of the Dabo Swinney era. In 2021, Brent Venables’ last year as defensive coordinator before departing for Oklahoma, Clemson ranked 7th nationally in run defense (96.3 ypg) and 8th in total defense (310.2 ypg). Promoting Goodwin from within was intended to maintain that standard, but the cracks quickly showed.
“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.”
Dabo Swinney on firing defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin
Swinney Seeks Swift Replacement
Swinney wasted no time in making a change, informing Goodwin of his termination in a meeting Sunday night. The urgency is understandable given the stakes in college football’s increasingly competitive landscape. With a talented roster headlined by rising stars like T.J. Parker, Peter Woods, Wade Woodaz and Avieon Terrell itching to rebound, Swinney is targeting a quick but thorough search for a new coordinator.
Whoever takes the reins will be tasked with rejuvenating a defense that looked uncharacteristically vulnerable last season. They’ll also need to gel quickly with a potentially explosive offense led by quarterback Cade Klubnik and a deep receiving corps. If Swinney’s aggressive timeline holds, Clemson could have a new defensive leader in place by the end of January.
Ripple Effects for Clemson’s 2025 Hopes
- Instant impact expected from new coordinator
- Pressure on offense to carry more weight
- Defensive recruits could reconsider commitments
- ACC rivals may see vulnerability to exploit
There’s little margin for error in the Tigers’ pursuit of a fourth national title. Promoting internally with Goodwin backfired, so Swinney must nail this hire to restore championship-level defense and keep Clemson in the playoff mix for 2025. For a proud program accustomed to success, how swiftly the ship can be righted may define the next chapter of the Dabo Swinney era.
