Swinney gets 5-year deal

CLEMSON ­— A whirlwind seven weeks that Dabo Swinney could never have imagined prior to the start of this season culminated in a fairy-tale ending Monday.

The 39-year-old former receivers coach had the interim tag removed from his title and was named Clemson’s new head football coach.

Athletic director Terry Don Phillips made the final decision after meeting with Swinney for more than two hours Sunday. He acknowledged the length of the contract was five years but wouldn’t disclose any financial terms until they’d been approved by the school’s Board of Trustees’ compensation committee.

Phillips made Swinney the interim coach on Oct. 13 after Tommy Bowden resigned just shy of finishing his 10th season.

“Seven weeks ago, I had absolutely no idea what was ahead,” Swinney said. “But I talked about my goals and vision for the program, and I think we achieved those goals. I hope people now have some kind of an idea of what I want our football team to look like on Saturdays.”

Swinney’s initial goals were to bridge a widening gap in Clemson’s fan base as well as a divided locker room that was a result of the team starting the season 3-3. The Tigers had been tabbed as preseason Atlantic Coast Conference champions and began the season ranked ninth nationally.

The team lost its first game under Swinney against Georgia Tech, looking sloppy with six turnovers, but then won four of its past five, including Saturday’s 31-14 win against rival South Carolina that made the Tigers eligible for a bowl game at 7-5.

Phillips drew laughter at Monday’s press conference in saying the victory against USC “certainly helped,” before adding that “Dabo has had about a six-year interview and people close to me know how I’ve felt about Dabo for a long time.

“This is one of those things where you don’t necessarily have a ‘eureka’ moment. You just see a young man you believe has special qualities and intangibles you’re born with, and it’s hard to have the leadership skills Dabo has.”

Despite his lack of experience, Swinney adamantly voiced his thoughts that Clemson had the right man for the job.

“I’ve never failed at anything in my life,” Swinney said. “I don’t mean that in an arrogant way, but I’m confident in my abilities, always have been. I believe in myself.”

Swinney arrived at Clemson in 2003 to coach the receivers under Bowden after spending a couple of years out of coaching in the real estate business. As a player, he was a walk-on receiver at Alabama who eventually earned a scholarship and was part of the 1992 national championship team.

He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the school in 1993 and eventually coached the Crimson Tide’s receivers and tight ends.

Swinney referred to Bowden as his biggest fan and thanked him for his continuing support under tough circumstances. Phillips said part of Bowden’s decision to step down at mid-season was to help give Swinney a look and if Bowden had finished the year, it was unlikely Swinney would have been chosen without the audition.

“It would have been a very slim proposition, very slim,” Phillips said. “If that was the dynamic, even though I feel real strong about (Swinney,) the fact that he wasn’t a coordinator would go against him and if he didn’t have good success, it would have been difficult to elevate him.”

Monday’s official announcement was a crowded affair attended by boosters, trustees, several current players and several members of Swinney’s family, including his wife and three sons.

Swinney had trouble holding back his emotions, especially after initially beginning to speak, and a few comments from both Phillips and him drew loud applause.

Swinney said his goals were “to go recruit the very best student-athletes that we can recruit, to graduate them and to win a championship. Those will be my objectives. We will embrace and enhance the traditions that are here.”

“I’m very happy, so thrilled when I heard coach Swinney got the job, he deserves this,” junior tailback C.J. Spiller said. “Whoever dreamed he would be our coach coming into this season? So it’s very emotional, and I’m very happy for him and his family. They have a special place in my heart.”

Phillips had interviewed at least four candidates that became public, including Lane Kiffin, who was introduced as Tennessee’s new coach Monday, and acknowledged that he’d spoken with several more who never hit the media’s radar.

Phillips denied that being able to get Swinney on the cheap due to his lack of experience had anything to do with the hiring, saying finances played no part in his decision.

“The bottom line is, financially our program is in very good shape,” Phillips said. “And we could afford to do what we needed to do. At the end of the day, I made the recommendation based upon what I believe is a wonderful fit for the program.

“I have no reservation and I say with great confidence Dabo Swinney’s going to be one of the great coaches in America.”