Dabo Swinney Signs 8-Year Contract Worth $54 Million With Clemson

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney will be returning to his revamped football program with a fresh new contract this fall after it was announced Friday that Swinney and Clemson agreed to an eight-year contract worth $54 million in total.

Swinney is being rewarded handsomely for getting the ACC football team back into an era of glory, having brought the team to a national championship game in both 2015 and 2016, winning the trophy last year. It was the first time the football program had won such a game since 1981.

The university released a breakdown of Swinney’s pay from 2017-2024. While he will average $6.75 million each year, he stands to make $7.5 million in 2017 because of a $1.5 million signing bonus.

The deal also stipulates bonuses for ACC championship titles, Coach of the Year awards, and national championship wins, which would land him an extra $2.5 million.

“Dabo’s impact on our football program, our university and our community is immeasurable and goes well beyond the on-field success and national championship,” Dan Radakovich, Clemson’s Director of Athletics said in a statement. “This new agreement demonstrates our strong commitment to Dabo and our confidence in his leadership now – and in the future – and his long-term commitment to Clemson. We are thrilled that he and his family will be a part of the Clemson family for years to come.”

Swinney, who began his head coaching job at Clemson in 2008, has brought the Clemson program back to prominence. In eight full seasons, he maintains a 89-28 overall win-loss record. In the ACC, the Clemson Tigers have posted a 54-15 record under Swinney’s leadership. In the past six years, Swinney’s team has only lost 13 games.

Because of his success, many speculate that Swinney has become the de facto replacement for Nick Saban at Swinney’s alma matter, Alabama, Clemson’s main competitor in recent years. But this eight-year contract may quell talk of a Swinney defection.

“My family and I have been extremely blessed to be a part of such an incredible university and community for the past 14 years,” Swinney said in a statement. “This contract makes a strong statement. It is a mutual commitment reflective of the program we have built and continue to build at Clemson. The Clemson family does so much to support our program and I couldn’t be more proud to be your head coach.”

The new contract puts Swinney much closer to the top of the list of highest paid college football coaches. In 2016, only two coaches made more than $6.75 million – Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh, who made $9 million, and Saban, who made $6.9 million.

In the past year, Clemson has committed to spend over $100 million on their football program – a $55 million football facility was just completed earlier this year.