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Why new Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen got choked up over daughters' reaction to him taking job
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- Why new Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen got choked up over daughters' reaction to him taking job
CLEMSON — Tom Allen realizes his decision to leave Penn State for Clemson football 's defensive coordinator position after one season raises some questions.
Allen explained the move Wednesday in his introductory press conference and got emotional when describing his daughters' reaction to the decision to be closer to family.
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"Our girls, they cried when they found out I was taking this job because," and Allen choked up a moment before continuing, "we're close, you know, so. Those kind of things, you just can't replace them, and life's short, and I don't take anything for granted."
Allen , 54, completed his first season of his three-year deal with Penn State as its defensive coordinator, leading the Nittany Lions to a top-10 finish in scoring defense and total defense. He was a semifinalist for the Broyles Award too, given to the nation's top assistant. Still, he departed Penn State to join Dabo Swinney 's team as its new defensive coordinator.
"I know not everyone is going to understand it, and I respect that," Allen said. "It's about my family and the timing of it all."
Allen wanted he and his wife, Tracy, to be closer to their daughters, Hannah and Brittney. Hannah lives in North Carolina and is expecting a child, and Brittany lives in Greenville, South Carolina, roughly 30 miles from Clemson.
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Allen's son, Thomas Allen, will join Clemson's staff to coach linebackers, according to Swinney. Thomas Allen served as a defensive analyst and analytics coordinator for Penn State last season.
Tom Allen recalled times when his wife, who he called a superstar, supported him while he was pursuing his dream to be a defensive coordinator in the Big Ten. Allen said he and his family lived in seven different states from 2006 through 2016. His children's lives were disrupted when they had to attend multiple schools in elementary, middle and high school.
Allen said he almost returned to high school coaching to return his family back to normalcy but stuck with it. After all those tough years, he wanted to repay his family, moving closer to his children so he and his wife could consistently see them.
MORE: Tom Allen contract: How much Clemson football, Dabo Swinney's defensive coordinator will make
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"People that know me weren't surprised. I'll just say that," Allen said. "They weren't surprised that my family was something that I really put at a high priority even though many people won't."
What Dabo Swinney said about Tom Allen, Clemson's new defensive coordinator
Swinney said he had a list of 10-12 candidates when he was looking for his fourth defensive coordinator hire, and Allen was the only candidate he had to reach out to, while other candidates or their representation reached out to him.
Swinney said he spoke to Allen on Jan. 10, the day after Penn State lost in the CFP semifinals. The two previously spoke when Allen was hired as the interim coach for Indiana in 2016. Swinney said he was drawn to Allen because of his ability to develop players.
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"Big people beat little people, and a lot of that is our ability to recruit the best of the best on the defensive line," Swinney said. "... Nobody's had more D-linemen go to the NFL in the past 15 years than Clemson."
Swinney added Allen will "coach the defense" and be with the team the entire time. Allen won't have to go on the road to recruit and won't necessarily coach linebackers with Ben Boulware and Thomas Allen potentially helping on recruiting and coaching. Swinney said this change is something he plans to discuss with offensive coordinator Garrett Riley too.
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: Tom Allen emotional over family reaction to move
