Clemson has given Dabo Swinney a new contract that keeps the Tigers’ head coach among the highest-paid in college football.
The Clemson University Board of Trustees’ compensation committee on Thursday morning approved a three-year extension to Swinney’s contract that runs through the end of the 2031 season. It’s the second extension in four years for Swinney, who inked a 10-year, $93-million contract in 2019 that ran through the 2028 season.
That deal called for Swinney to make $8.5 million this year before incentives, but his latest extension comes with a raise to $10.5 million. Swinney’s salary will increase to $12.5 million by the end of the deal.
His average annual salary over the life of the new contract will be $11.5 million prior to incentives.
Swinney is now the second highest-paid coach in college football behind Alabama coach Nick Saban, who agreed to an extension late last month that will pay him $10.7 million this season prior to incentives. Swinney moves ahead of Georgia’s Kirby Smart ($10.2 million) for that distinction.
Swinney, 51, is in his 15th season as Clemson’s head coach if his time spent as the Tigers’ interim coach in 2008 is included, turning the program into one of college football’s elite during that time. He has won more than 80% of his games as the head coach and has led Clemson to seven ACC championships and six College Football Playoff appearances. Swinney has coached the Tigers’ most recent national championship teams in 2016 and 2018.
Clemson, which is trying for its 12th consecutive season of at least 10 wins, began this season with a 41-10 win over Georgia Tech on Monday. Swinney’s team will return to action Saturday for its home opener against Furman at Memorial Stadium.