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Clemson football's Wes Goodwin will not return as defensive coordinator
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- Clemson football's Wes Goodwin will not return as defensive coordinator
(This story was updated because reports of Goodwin's firing was confirmed.)
Defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin will not return to Clemson football for the 2025 season.
Tigers coach Dabo Swinney announced Goodwin's departure on Monday . Goodwin spent the past three seasons as Clemson 's defensive coordinator, taking over in December 2021 for now-Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables. Goodwin served as a senior defensive assistant for the Tigers before becoming the coordinator.
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Goodwin kept Clemson 's defense afloat after Venables' exit, earning a nomination for the Broyles Award, given to the nation's top assistant, in 2023. However, Clemson's defense struggled mightily in 2024.
The Tigers tied for 50th in scoring defense with 23.4 points allowed per game, and were 69th in total defense (374.1 yards allowed) last season. The major flaw was the run defense, allowing 160.6 yards per game (84th in FBS). It allowed more than 200 yards rushing in five games this past season, and in each of its four losses, it gave up at least six yards per carry.
The Tigers' rushing defense woes peaked in the first round of the College Football Playoff against Texas , where they allowed a season-high 292 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Goodwin made questionable personnel changes, too, notably removing linebacker Sammy Brown in the loss to South Carolina in favor of playing five defensive backs. That decision contributed to Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers setting a career high in rushing yards with 166.
Goodwin earned a $550,000 raise in February, increasing his salary to $1.4 million last season, which tied for 29th among assistant coaches. He had two years left on his contract for a total of $3.1 million. Since he was fired, he is owed that full amount, but his buyout can be reduced by whatever his new salary is at his new job.
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If Goodwin would have taken a new job before getting fired, he would owe Clemson 25% of his remaining salary ($775,000), though the university has the discretion to waive that.
MORE: Five most important players Dabo Swinney retained for the 2025 Clemson football roster
Under Goodwin, Clemson's defense has been on a downward trajectory year to year.
The Tigers allowed 20.9 points per game in 2022 (22nd in FBS); 21.1 in 2023 (31st); and 23.4 in 2024 (tied for 50th). Notably, their run defense has plummeted, going from 102.7 yards in 2022 (13th in FBS) to 114.6 in 2023 (24th) to 160.6 in 2024 (84th). Their yards per carry allowed average worsened as well, going from 3.3 in 2022 to 3.8 (2023) to 4.7 (2024).
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Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football: Wes Goodwin will not return as defensive coordinator
