Dabo Swinney is making big changes at Clemson, and after the Tigers’ disappointing 2025 campaign, it’s not hard to see why. On Monday, Swinney announced that offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and safeties coach Mickey Conn will not be returning to the program next season. It’s a significant shake-up for a team that’s struggled to maintain the elite standard it once set under Swinney’s leadership.
Let’s start with Riley. Hired in early 2023 after winning the Broyles Award in 2022 for his work as TCU’s offensive coordinator, Riley came to Clemson with high expectations.
And to be fair, there were flashes of what he was brought in to do. In 2024, his second year, Clemson’s offense clicked-ranking 12th nationally in total offense with 443.8 yards per game, capturing an ACC title, and earning a spot in the College Football Playoff.
That’s the kind of production Clemson fans had hoped for when Riley joined the staff.
But the 2025 season told a different story.
Clemson’s offense regressed significantly this year. The Tigers finished 62nd in total offense, averaging 392.2 yards per game.
While the passing game held up reasonably well-22nd nationally at 267.8 yards per game-the ground game was nearly non-existent, finishing 104th with just 124.5 rushing yards per game. The offense managed only 27.2 points per game, which ranked 70th in the country.
For a program that used to light up the scoreboard with regularity, those numbers simply weren’t good enough.
Swinney acknowledged as much in a statement, saying, “At the end of the day, we just did not get the production and the results that we needed, and I just feel like it is time for a change.” He was quick to praise Riley’s intelligence, work ethic, and future coaching potential, but made it clear that the fit just didn’t pan out the way either side had hoped.
It’s a tough break for Riley, who clearly has the tools to be a successful coach at this level and beyond. But college football is a results-driven business, and Clemson’s 7-6 record this season-their worst since 2010-spoke volumes.
The offensive struggles weren’t the only issue, though. Swinney also parted ways with longtime assistant Mickey Conn, who had been with the program since 2016.
Conn served as safeties coach since 2017 and added a co-defensive coordinator title in 2022. A former Alabama player and one-time college teammate of Swinney’s, Conn was a steady presence on the defensive side of the ball for nearly a decade.
Letting go of someone with that kind of tenure and personal connection isn’t easy, and Swinney made that clear in his comments. But again, it comes down to performance. Clemson’s defense has had its ups and downs in recent years, and with the program slipping from its perch among the college football elite, a reset on both sides of the ball seems necessary.
From 2015 to 2019, Clemson was a fixture in the national title conversation-winning championships in 2016 and 2018, and making four title game appearances in five years. But the past few seasons have told a different story.
The Tigers have lost at least four games in each of the last three years, and haven’t finished with fewer than three losses since 2019. That’s a far cry from the dominance fans had come to expect.
Now, there’s a sense of urgency in Death Valley. Swinney isn’t on the hot seat-not yet-but the pressure to evolve and adapt is real.
These coaching moves signal a willingness to do just that. For a program that once defined consistency and excellence, the challenge now is to rediscover that identity in a rapidly changing college football landscape.
The next offensive coordinator will inherit a group that has talent but needs direction. The same goes for the next safeties coach, who will be tasked with helping restore a defense that’s shown flashes but hasn’t consistently played at a championship level.
Clemson’s not far removed from being a powerhouse. But in today’s game, staying on top requires more than tradition and past success. It takes the right people, the right schemes, and a willingness to make tough calls when things aren’t working.
Swinney just made two of those calls. Now we wait to see what comes next.