Dabo Swinney facts for kids
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Swinney in 2019
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| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | Clemson |
| Conference | ACC |
| Record | 180–47 |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | November 20, 1969 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1990–1992 | Alabama |
| Position(s) | Wide receiver |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1993–1995 | Alabama (GA) |
| 1996 | Alabama (WR/TE) |
| 1997 | Alabama (TE) |
| 1998–2000 | Alabama (WR) |
| 2003–2006 | Clemson (WR/RC) |
| 2007–2008 | Clemson (AHC/WR/RC) |
| 2008 | Clemson (interim HC/OC) |
| 2009–present | Clemson |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 180–47 |
| Bowls | 12–9 |
| Tournaments | 6–5 (CFP) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
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| Awards | |
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William Christopher "Dabo" Swinney (born November 20, 1969) is a famous American college football coach. He is currently the head football coach at Clemson University. Swinney became the head coach of the Clemson Tigers during the 2008 season.
Under his leadership, the Clemson Tigers won national championships in 2016 and 2018. His 2018 team is often called one of the best college football teams ever. Dabo Swinney holds the record for the most wins as a head coach in both Clemson and ACC football history.
Contents
- Early Life and Education
- Playing Career
- Coaching Career
- Coaching at Alabama
- Coaching at Clemson
- Becoming Head Coach in 2008
- 2009 Season Success
- 2010 Season Challenges
- 2011 ACC Championship
- 2012 and 2013 Seasons
- 2014 Season
- 2015 National Championship Appearance
- 2016 National Championship Win
- 2017 Season
- 2018 Undefeated National Championship
- 2019 Season
- 2020 Season
- 2021 Season
- 2022 Season
- 2023 Season
- 2024 Season
- Personal Life
- Head Coaching Record
Early Life and Education
Dabo Swinney was born in Birmingham but grew up in Pelham. He played several sports, including baseball and football, at Pelham High School.
After his parents divorced, Swinney and his mother faced financial challenges. They lived with friends for a period of time. Despite these difficulties, Swinney was an excellent student and continued to do well in football.
His high school coach wanted him to play basketball in college. However, Swinney really wanted to go to the University of Alabama, his father's favorite football team. He worked hard during college summers to pay for his tuition and living costs.
Swinney was part of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity in college. He earned his first degree in business in 1993. Two years later, he received a master's degree in Business Administration from the same university.
Playing Career
Swinney joined the Alabama Crimson Tide in 1989 as a walk-on wide receiver. This means he joined the team without a scholarship at first. He later earned a scholarship and played for three seasons (1990–1992). This included the team that won the 1992 National Championship.
While at Alabama, Swinney was recognized twice for his strong academic performance. He was named an Academic All-SEC player. In his three seasons, he caught seven passes for 81 yards.
Coaching Career
Coaching at Alabama
After his playing days, Swinney became a graduate assistant coach at Alabama. He worked under coach Gene Stallings while finishing his master's degree.
In 1995, Swinney became a full-time assistant coach for the Crimson Tide. He was in charge of wide receivers and tight ends. He stayed in this role until early 2001 when the coaching staff was changed.
Swinney took a break from coaching from 2001 to 2003. During this time, he worked in commercial real estate.
Coaching at Clemson
In 2002, Tommy Bowden, who used to coach Swinney at Alabama, offered him a job at Clemson. Swinney joined Clemson in 2003 as the wide receivers coach. He also became the recruiting coordinator. Swinney was very good at both roles. He coached top receivers and was named one of the nation's best recruiters in 2007.
Becoming Head Coach in 2008
Swinney was named the interim head football coach on October 13, 2008. This happened after head coach Tommy Bowden resigned six games into the season. The Tigers had started the year ranked #9 but had a 3–3 record.
Swinney quickly made changes, including starting a new tradition called the "Tiger Walk." This is where players and coaches walk through the parking lot to the stadium before games. His first game as interim coach was a close loss to Georgia Tech. However, he soon earned his first win against Boston College. On November 29, 2008, Clemson became eligible for a bowl game after beating rival South Carolina.
On December 1, 2008, Swinney was officially named Clemson's 27th head coach. His first game as the full-time coach was a loss in the 2009 Gator Bowl.
Swinney quickly showed his skill in recruiting. He brought in five top-20 recruiting classes in a row. This helped Clemson become one of only 10 schools to have such consistent top recruiting.
2009 Season Success
In 2009, Swinney's first full season, Clemson finished with a 9–5 record. They won the Atlantic Division title in the ACC. Key wins included beating #8 Miami (FL) and Florida State. Clemson also won the 2009 Music City Bowl against Kentucky. The team finished the season ranked #24 in the AP Top 25 poll.
2010 Season Challenges
The 2010 season was tough for Clemson, ending with a 6–7 record. Many of their losses were very close games. After the season, some fans wanted Swinney to be fired. However, the athletic director decided to keep him for the 2011 season. This was Clemson's first losing season since 1998.
2011 ACC Championship
In 2011, Swinney led the Tigers to a 10–3 record. They won the ACC Championship, their first since 1991. This earned them a trip to the Orange Bowl, a major bowl game. However, Clemson lost the 2012 Orange Bowl to West Virginia.
A big change in 2011 was the addition of offensive coordinator Chad Morris. He brought a fast-paced offense that broke many Clemson records. Swinney also won the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award in 2011. This award honors coaches who excel on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.
2012 and 2013 Seasons
In 2012, Clemson had an 11–2 record, their first 11-win season since 1981. They capped it off with a 25–24 upset win over #8 LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. The Tigers finished the year ranked 11th.
The 2013 season marked Clemson's third straight 10-win season. They beat #5 Georgia in the season opener. Clemson also won their first BCS bowl game, defeating #7 Ohio State 40–35 in the 2014 Orange Bowl. This was a big achievement for the team. After the season, Swinney signed a new eight-year contract.
2014 Season
Clemson achieved its fourth consecutive 10-win season in 2014. The season included a big win over rival South Carolina, breaking a five-game losing streak. Clemson then routed Oklahoma 40–6 in the Russell Athletic Bowl. The Tigers finished 10–3 and ranked 15th.
2015 National Championship Appearance
The 2015 season was Swinney's best at that time. He led the Tigers to a 14–1 record, an ACC Championship, and a spot in the national championship game. Clemson defeated #8 North Carolina to win their 15th ACC title. They then beat #4 Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff Semifinals. Clemson played Alabama in the title game but lost 45–40. Swinney received many awards, including ACC Coach of the Year.
2016 National Championship Win
On April 12, 2016, Swinney signed a new six-year contract. He led Clemson to another great season with a 12–1 regular season record and another ACC Championship. Key wins included beating #3 Louisville and #12 Florida State. Clemson's only loss was a close game to Pitt.
After winning the ACC Championship, Clemson secured the #2 seed in the College Football Playoff. They defeated #3 Ohio State 31–0 in the semifinals. On January 9, 2017, Swinney led the Tigers to a thrilling 35–31 comeback win over #1 Alabama. This victory secured the national championship for Clemson, their first since 1981.
2017 Season
After winning the national championship, Clemson continued to excel in 2017. Despite losing many key players, they had a 12–1 regular season record and won their third straight ACC Championship. Clemson dominated #7 Miami 38–3 in the ACC Championship game.
Swinney earned his 97th career win at Clemson, becoming the second-winningest coach in school history. Clemson finished the season ranked #4 after losing to #4 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl playoff semifinal.
2018 Undefeated National Championship
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The 2018 Tigers started the season ranked second in the nation. They had a perfect season, winning every game. They won their fourth straight ACC Championship by beating Pitt 42–10.
Clemson then qualified for the College Football Playoff as the #2 seed. They defeated undefeated #3 Notre Dame 30–3 in the semifinals. In the national championship game, Clemson beat Alabama 44–16. This win gave Clemson their third national championship and Swinney's second. Clemson was the first team in modern history to go 15–0. Many experts called the 2018 Tigers one of the greatest college football teams ever.
2019 Season
The 2019 Tigers continued their winning ways, going undefeated in the regular season. They won their fifth straight ACC Championship by defeating Virginia 62–17. Clemson was named the #3 seed in the College Football Playoff. They beat #2 Ohio State 29–23 in the semifinals. However, they lost the national title game to the LSU Tigers 42–25. This loss ended Clemson's 29-game winning streak.
2020 Season
The 2020 Tigers played a shorter schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They started the season ranked #1 and had a 7–0 record. They lost to #4 Notre Dame in double overtime, but later got revenge by beating Notre Dame 34–10 in the ACC Championship Game. This secured their sixth straight conference title. The season ended with a loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff Semifinal.
2021 Season
Clemson started the 2021 season ranked third. They had some early losses but finished strong with a five-game winning streak. The Tigers ended the season with a 10–3 record. They won the Cheez-It Bowl against Iowa State and finished ranked #14.
2022 Season
On September 8, 2022, Swinney signed a contract extension through 2031. The Tigers started the season 8–0 and reached a #5 ranking. They lost to Notre Dame and then to rival South Carolina. However, they won the ACC Championship over North Carolina 39–10. Clemson played in the Orange Bowl but lost to Tennessee. The 2022 season marked Clemson's 12th straight season with at least ten wins.
2023 Season
The Tigers started the 2023 season ranked #9. They had some tough losses early on but finished the season with a five-game winning streak. This streak included wins over Notre Dame and North Carolina. They also won the Gator Bowl against Kentucky.
During this season, Swinney won his 166th game at Clemson. This made him the winningest coach in the school's history, passing Hall of Famer Frank Howard.
2024 Season
Swinney and the Tigers started the 2024 season ranked #14. They finished the regular season with a 9–3 record and qualified for the ACC Championship. The Tigers defeated SMU 34–31 in the ACC Championship Game. Clemson made it to the College Football Playoff as the 12-seed but lost to Texas in the first round.
Personal Life
Swinney's nickname "Dabo" was given to him by his older brother, Tripp, when he was a baby. Tripp would try to say "that boy" when referring to him.
Swinney became a Christian when he was 16 years old. He says this was a "game-changer" for him and became the foundation of his life. He believes coaching allows him to use his experiences to help young people and serve God.
He is married to his high school sweetheart, Kathleen Swinney. They have three sons and live in Clemson, South Carolina.
Head Coaching Record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson Tigers (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2008–present) | |||||||||
| 2008 | Clemson | 4–3 | 3–2 | T–3rd (Atlantic) | L Gator | ||||
| 2009 | Clemson | 9–5 | 6–2 | 1st (Atlantic) | W Music City | 24 | |||
| 2010 | Clemson | 6–7 | 4–4 | T–4th (Atlantic) | L Meineke Car Care | ||||
| 2011 | Clemson | 10–4 | 6–2 | 1st (Atlantic) | L Orange† | 22 | 22 | ||
| 2012 | Clemson | 11–2 | 7–1 | T–1st (Atlantic) | W Chick-fil-A | 9 | 11 | ||
| 2013 | Clemson | 11–2 | 7–1 | 2nd (Atlantic) | W Orange† | 7 | 8 | ||
| 2014 | Clemson | 10–3 | 6–2 | 2nd (Atlantic) | W Russell Athletic | 15 | 15 | ||
| 2015 | Clemson | 14–1 | 8–0 | 1st (Atlantic) | W Orange†, L CFP NCG† | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2016 | Clemson | 14–1 | 7–1 | 1st (Atlantic) | W Fiesta†, W CFP NCG† | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2017 | Clemson | 12–2 | 7–1 | 1st (Atlantic) | L Sugar† | 4 | 4 | ||
| 2018 | Clemson | 15–0 | 8–0 | 1st (Atlantic) | W Cotton†, W CFP NCG† | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2019 | Clemson | 14–1 | 8–0 | 1st (Atlantic) | W Fiesta†, L CFP NCG† | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2020 | Clemson | 10–2 | 7–1 | 2nd | L Sugar† | 3 | 3 | ||
| 2021 | Clemson | 10–3 | 6–2 | T–2nd (Atlantic) | W Cheez-It | 16 | 14 | ||
| 2022 | Clemson | 11–3 | 8–0 | 1st (Atlantic) | L Orange† | 12 | 13 | ||
| 2023 | Clemson | 9–4 | 4–4 | T–6th | W Gator | 20 | 20 | ||
| 2024 | Clemson | 10–4 | 7–1 | 2nd | L CFP First Round† | 11 | 14 | ||
| Clemson: | 180–47 | 109–24 | |||||||
| Total: | 180–47 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
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