🏈 Steele to Clemson? Possible replacements?

Alabama's Steele to join Swinney at Clemson after Sugar Bowl

After Sugar Bowl, Kevin Steele will accept job as Clemson's defensive coordinator, source says


Alabama head defensive coach Kevin Steele will accept the job as Clemson's defensive coordinator, a source with knowledge of Steele's thinking told The Birmingham News.

Steele, the native of Dillon, S.C., will coach tonight against Utah in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, then join the staff of new Tigers coach Dabo Swinney. Steele became Swinney's target after John Chavis took a job at LSU earlier in the week.

An official announcement has not yet been made, as the decision came in the early morning on Friday. Clemson performs lengthy background checks on its hires, so the word from CU may not come until after the Sugar Bowl.
 
Re: Steele to Clemson?

JAshley37 said:
Is Coach Steele leaving for Clemson? Just heard about this, sorry if it's been known.

There is a thread here from the first week of December where we talked about it just a little bit. It's titled something like "Dabo is putting a staff together." If you want, you can use the search function and look it up.

Dabo after Steele isn't something "new." He was on their list back when Dabo was interviewing Chavis and a few others for that side of the ball.

It's just one of those stories we knew about...but as the December has come and gone it's just gained more and more weight. Part of that has to do with the offer to Chavis, but LSU being the school that looks to grab him.
 
FWIW, one name that's come up in conversations with a few friends this week makes a lot of sense to me. (RE: replacing Steele)

Geoff Collins.

If you recall, Geoff was with our program and left before this season to join the staff at UCF. While he was here, he was our director of player personnel, considered an asst. coach but it was an off the field position.

Now, he's the linebacker coach and recruiting coordinator for UCF. He was just recently one of the candidates to take the WCU head coaching position.

Just a thought...but, you can see why I am having that thought.

Another name to think about is Jeremy Pruitt. He's on the staff now in an administrative type position (I'll have to look him up to remember what he's doing) but his experience has been on the defensive side of the ball.
 
TerryP said:
FWIW, one name that's come up in conversations with a few friends this week makes a lot of sense to me. (RE: replacing Steele)

Geoff Collins.

If you recall, Geoff was with our program and left before this season to join the staff at UCF. While he was here, he was our director of player personnel, considered an asst. coach but it was an off the field position.

Now, he's the linebacker coach and recruiting coordinator for UCF. He was just recently one of the candidates to take the WCU head coaching position.

Just a thought...but, you can see why I am having that thought.

Another name to think about is Jeremy Pruitt. He's on the staff now in an administrative type position (I'll have to look him up to remember what he's doing) but his experience has been on the defensive side of the ball.

Travis Jones might be a possibility too.
 
RollTide1980 said:
Clemson is a black hole and I really don't see the logic of this move from a career standpoint.

Leaving Alabama...for Clemson. Okay.
:roll:

~Bryan

Well, if I remember correctly he's from the state of South Carolina. Plus he will more than likely be given full control of Clemson's defense, unlike what he has here with Saban and Smart pitching in. So with that in mind it's a great move for him to be able to show off what he can do and get his name out there.
 
BamaCore said:
RollTide1980 said:
Clemson is a black hole and I really don't see the logic of this move from a career standpoint.

Leaving Alabama...for Clemson. Okay.
:roll:

~Bryan

Well, if I remember correctly he's from the state of South Carolina. Plus he will more than likely be given full control of Clemson's defense, unlike what he has here with Saban and Smart pitching in. So with that in mind it's a great move for him to be able to show off what he can do and get his name out there.

Very true. And yes he is from SC.

I guess I'm just looking at the name "Clemson" and rolling my eyes.

Granted Dabo is making some great hires and the future could be brighter than ever, but history shows that Clemson has never been anything! I guess I just can't look past the name of the school in question. Being the DC at a top 5 school is no shame. If Clemson only wins 6-7 games next year...he could regret the move.

Back in the old days, coaches left to come to Bama, now coaches are leaving to go elsewhere. That just goes to show how much of a business college ball has become.

Coaches used to be a solid part of a school, now they're just people who are passing through.

The only people who wear the true colors, are the fans.

...He's going home...can't blame him for that.

~Bryan
 
So the defenses at both South Carolina and Clemson will not be coordinated by EX-UA coordinators. And the new Miss State DC is a former UA defensive coordinator.

Seems even in the post-Bryant era the coaching tree still has roots in Tuscaloosa. Not as big or deep or strong as when Bryant was transplanting assistants across the country (in Head jobs many times), but at least some saplings are being planted. Never hurts in your effort to lure up-and-coming quality assistants.

Now let's win some championships and watch the seeds spread even wider.
 
I can't believe he would leave a program with the promise Bama is showing now for those posers the Tide played in the opening game this season. I didn't think he would leave unless a desiable HC job came open, and yes, I know all about the Baylor debacle.
 
alagator said:
Porter said:
Travis Jones might be a possibility too.

A BIG winner of a choice in my book.

Hope you are speaking from some educated guess and not just pulling a name out of the air. I will hurt you if the latter.

I've heard that as well...both guys would be great fits.
 
alagator said:
So the defenses at both South Carolina and Clemson will not be coordinated by EX-UA coordinators. And the new Miss State DC is a former UA defensive coordinator.

Word has it Chizik might make a run at Johnson.
 
Bishop said:
What about promoting Kirby smart to DC? Wasn't he like the "Head defensive coach" this year anyways?

Kirby is already DC. Steele's main difference was he was the primary play caller on defense...with assistance from Kirby.
 
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