Drew Swinney Set to Join Samford as WR Coach, Marking a New Chapter Away from Clemson
Clemson football is seeing a familiar face take the next step in his coaching journey - and this time, it’s one of their own in more ways than one. Drew Swinney, the middle son of head coach Dabo Swinney, is heading to Samford to become the Bulldogs' new wide receivers coach.
“I'm excited for Drew - just gonna be a great next step for him,” Dabo said on Dec. 15. “Pretty cool his first job to go run the room is in Birmingham.”
It’s a significant move, not just because of the family ties, but because it marks the first time one of Dabo Swinney’s children is leaving the Clemson program for a coaching role elsewhere. At 25, Drew is stepping into a full-time position coach role, a notable leap after several years grinding behind the scenes at his alma mater.
Drew’s new opportunity comes under Samford’s newly appointed head coach John Grass, who was hired on December 3. Grass knows the Clemson system well - he spent the past few seasons embedded in it, first as a special assistant to the offense in 2022 and 2023, then as a senior offensive assistant and assistant quarterbacks coach this past season. It’s no surprise that as Grass builds out his staff in Birmingham, he’s turning to familiar faces who understand the culture and structure he wants to implement.
Drew Swinney's coaching roots at Clemson run deep. He spent three seasons on staff, starting as a graduate assistant in 2023 and 2024. This year, he moved into a more hands-on role, working in offensive player development and assisting with the wide receivers - a natural fit given his playing background.
From 2018 to 2022, Drew was a wide receiver for the Tigers, logging 14 catches for 96 yards across his career. But his contributions went beyond the stat sheet.
He served as the team’s holder on field goals during his final season - a role that demands poise, precision, and trust. Those traits have clearly carried over into his coaching path.
“I know he's my son, but he’s a stud. He’s ready,” Dabo said, offering a proud but confident endorsement of his son’s readiness for the next level.
Football runs deep in the Swinney family. Drew’s older brother, Will, is currently on staff at Clemson as an assistant tight ends coach and works in offensive player development. Their youngest brother, Clay, is in his fourth season as a wide receiver and also serves as the team’s holder - a role Drew once held.
As for Grass, the 57-year-old brings a wealth of experience to Samford. His time at Clemson helped sharpen his offensive acumen, and now he’s tasked with leading the Bulldogs as the 37th head coach in program history. With Drew Swinney joining him, and more Clemson staffers potentially on the way, it’s clear Grass is building a staff rooted in familiarity and trust - a recipe that could pay dividends as he tries to establish his vision in Birmingham.
For Drew, this is more than just a job - it’s the beginning of his own coaching legacy, one that starts outside the shadow of Clemson but still carries the foundation built within it.