Swinney told Elliott all he needed to hear, to take UVA job

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has said that Tony Elliott is like a son to him, and Elliott certainly feels he has a father-son bond with Swinney as well. “He is like a father to me,” Elliott said on Monday during his introductory press conference …

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has said that Tony Elliott is like a son to him, and Elliott certainly feels he has a father-son bond with Swinney as well.

“He is like a father to me,” Elliott said on Monday during his introductory press conference as Virginia’s new head football coach.

Elliott, who spent 11 seasons at Clemson as an assistant coach under Swinney, including the last six as offensive or co-offensive coordinator, first formed a relationship with Swinney in 2003 – Swinney’s first year as an assistant at Clemson, when he was the wide receivers coach, and Elliott’s final season as a receiver for the Tigers.

At that time, Elliott – who came to Clemson as a walk-on in the fall of 1999 – had already graduated and was deciding whether to return for one more season at Clemson or to go ahead and start his career in the engineering field.

That’s when Swinney stepped in and convinced Elliott to come back, and the point when they began to build a bond that will last a lifetime.

“Our relationship started in 2003 when he came to Clemson,” said Elliott, who finished his career with four letters and 44 games, including four as a starter as a senior in 2003.

“I was asked to come back for my last year, and right after the bowl game, (former Clemson receivers coach) Rick Stockstill leaves to take another job, and we’re sitting in limbo. I was already a graduate and I was debating whether or not I was going to come back, and then Coach Swinney came along. He didn’t have a reason to believe in me. I was a former walk-on, wasn’t a scholarship guy. Asked to come back, and there was some dudes coming back in that room from a receivers standpoint. But he saw something in me, and he believed in me and he gave me an opportunity. And from there, the bond has been strong ever since.”

Swinney has long served as a mentor to Elliott, who has been a candidate for plenty of various coaching vacancies but stayed selective in his search for the right head coaching position.

He knew Virginia was the right job and situation for him when he heard Swinney say it.

“He’s always been in my corner,” Elliott said. “He understands who I am, he understands the right fit, and he’s been the one that’s helped me to stay patient, to look for the right fit, to make sure that I get into a situation where there is alignment. There were jobs that he would give me his blessing on, and there were jobs that he wouldn’t give me his blessings on. And when I heard him say that he felt like Virginia was the perfect fit for Tony Elliott, then that’s all I needed to hear.”

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Elliott has a message for his former Clemson players

Tony Elliott was officially introduced as the University of Virginia’s head coach on Monday. Elliott has been careful and patient. He’s had many opportunities to become a head coach before, but ultimately this was the right time and fit for him and …

Tony Elliott was officially introduced as the University of Virginia’s head coach on Monday.

Elliott has been careful and patient. He’s had many opportunities to become a head coach before, but ultimately this was the right time and fit for him and his family.

At his introductory presser, the former Clemson offensive coordinator was asked about his outgoing message for his now-former Clemson players. The ones that helped him reach this ultimate point in his career.

“I appear larger than I really am today because I had the privilege of standing on the shoulders of you giants,” he said Monday. “Thank you.”

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Does Desmond Howard think Tony Elliott is a good hire for UVA?

On ESPN’s College Football Live, ESPN college football analyst Desmond Howard weighed in on Virginia’s hire of Tony Elliott as the football program’s next head coach. Howard was asked if it makes sense for Clemson’s former offensive coordinator to …

On ESPN’s College Football Live, ESPN college football analyst Desmond Howard weighed in on Virginia’s hire of Tony Elliott as the football program’s next head coach.

Howard was asked if it makes sense for Clemson’s former offensive coordinator to go to UVA.

“I think Tony Elliott is a really good hire,” Howard said. “I like him as a coach, but I really respect him as a person, too. And you look at his story, man, just a tremendous story. Dabo Swinney gave him his opportunity to be an OC at Clemson, and he’s delivered.”

Elliott was named co-offensive coordinator at Clemson prior to the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl and was co-offensive coordinator of Clemson’s 2016 and 2018 national championship teams.

Clemson posted an 89-10 record in 99 games since his 2014 promotion, and the Tigers finished in the top 25 in each of his first 10 years as a full-time coach from 2011-20, including top-five finishes in each of the last six seasons before this year.

While coaching Clemson’s running backs from 2011-20, Elliott coached a 1,000-yard rusher seven times, including Wayne Gallman in 2015 and 2016 and Travis Etienne in 2018 and 2019.

“He’s a guy who’s going to develop young talent,” Howard said. “You look at Trevor Lawrence and all these great quarterbacks and players that he’s had offensively, they give Tony Elliott a tremendous amount of credit for their development.

“So, he’s learned at the feet of the master, one of the best coaches we’ve seen for the past eight, nine years — Dabo Swinney — and now he’s ready to take his talents to UVA. So, I think it’s a good hire.”

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Clemson commit gives his thoughts on Elliott’s departure

After Tony Elliott was officially announced as Virginia’s new head coach on Friday, The Clemson Insider caught up with one of Clemson’s offensive commits to get his thoughts on the Tigers’ offensive coordinator leaving. “I’m definitely happy for …

After Tony Elliott was officially announced as Virginia’s new head coach on Friday, The Clemson Insider caught up with one of Clemson’s offensive commits to get his thoughts on the Tigers’ offensive coordinator leaving.

“I’m definitely happy for him, being able to get that job,” said Blake Miller, a four-star offensive lineman from Strongsville (Ohio) High School.

“I’m sure when it comes to Clemson, that Coach Swinney has a plan. He’ll get someone in there and things will be business as usual.”

Miller, who became the first commit in Clemson’s 2022 class when he pledged in October 2020, had an in-home visit with Dabo Swinney and offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell on Friday.

Miller is set to sign with Clemson next week and enroll early next month.

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Pollack: Elliott will ‘have his hands full’ at Virginia

On ESPN’s College Football Live, ESPN college football analyst David Pollack gave his take on Virginia’s hire of former Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott as the Cavaliers’ new head football coach. “It’s interesting,” Pollack said. “In the …

On ESPN’s College Football Live, ESPN college football analyst David Pollack gave his take on Virginia’s hire of former Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott as the Cavaliers’ new head football coach.

“It’s interesting,” Pollack said. “In the ACC, obviously, so direct competition with Clemson. But I think he’s kind of been waiting for an opportunity and finally gets one. But awesome, awesome human being — meek, mild. Like, everybody will respect him day one.”

Pollack, though, believes Elliott will “have his hands full” in his new gig.

“Virginia’s not an easy job,” Pollack said. “Nobody’s been there consistently and won. You can go back a ways since that’s happened. So, he’s going to have his hands full. But he better be able to develop that talent and get talent to come to UVA, which is not easy.”

For the record, the winningest coach in Virginia football history is College Football Hall of Famer George Welsh, who coached UVA to a record of 134-86-3 from 1982-2000 and retired as the winningest coach in Atlantic Coast Conference history.

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Former Tiger dishes on Elliott leaving for Virginia and his son’s commitment status

The Clemson Insider recently spoke with Patrick Sapp to get some insight on Tony Elliott accepting the head coaching job at the University of Virginia. Sapp hit on a number of topics during the following question-and-answer session, including his …

The Clemson Insider recently spoke with Patrick Sapp to get some insight on Tony Elliott accepting the head coaching job at the University of Virginia.

Sapp hit on a number of topics during the following question-and-answer session, including his thoughts and reactions to his close, personal friend making a significant decision, how this impacts his son, Josh, and where Clemson goes from here.

There are very few people who know Virginia’s new head coach and the inner workings of Clemson’s program better than Sapp, a former Tigers’ linebacker himself. It was only right to catch up with Sapp after Friday’s events unfolded.

Note: This interview was edited and condensed for clarity

Being that you’re close with Tony Elliott, can we get your overall reaction to him accepting the University of Virginia job and him electing to go over to Charlottesville?

Of course, I definitely wanted him to stay at Clemson. It’s just my personal selfishness, as well as I know how my son really feels about Coach Elliott and a lot of his decision on going to Clemson was both Coach Elliott and Coach Swinney. So, I know he’s somewhat disappointed. But for me, I’m happy for him. It’s well deserved. I think if you’re doing it the right way as a program, people are gonna want your coaches. And if that’s the case, which that’s the case with Clemson, you’re gonna lose guys. I think Coach Swinney and those guys stayed at Clemson a long time and have been committed even after being offered numerous jobs over the years.

I knew it was gonna happen. I know Coach Swinney knew it was gonna happen. If you have any understanding of coaching and collegiate football, this day was coming at some point. I’m happy for him, man. It’s well deserved. It’s been well deserved for a long time. I know he thought about it long and hard and prayed about it. He’s made the right decision for himself and his family.

You mentioned that [Clemson 2022 three-star tight end commit] Josh [Sapp] is disappointed, but he plans to still sign with Clemson?

Yes. Yes. Yes. We’re still committed to Clemson, no doubt. I know he and Tony really had a good relationship and he has a lot of respect for Coach Elliott. He’s a bright young man. He understands that these things happen and will happen. But, we’re still committed to the program.

From your vantage point, is losing Tony Elliott and Brent Venables to Virginia and Oklahoma, respectively, a testament to this program and what Clemson has been able to build under Dabo Swinney?

Yeah, no doubt. You look at the great programs. You look at the great head coaches. You always find a coaching tree and kind of trail that leads back to those guys, those great head coaches, and great programs. You just look at the last 40 or 50 years, there are probably six or seven great coaches that you can recall that probably has a tree lineage of coaches 20 deep.

So yes, it’s a testament to the program and again, I knew it was gonna happen. Coach Swinney knew it was gonna happen. I’m sure he’s had some kind of preparation for it. I’m sure he probably didn’t think it would happen with two coordinators in one year at the same time. I know that’s hard to plan for…but, thank God again. I feel like what helps programs move through these things successfully is stability.

Even with [Dan Radakovich] leaving, you have great folks in Graham Neff that have been a part of Clemson for 6-7, 10 years. Even though you lose your [Athletic Director] you still got people there that have been working in that department and working end to end that understand and know Clemson. Same thing with the staff. You got a lot of folks in that building that have been there for a number of years. Even though you’re losing two great guys that are in a lot of ways that’ll be hard to replace, no doubt, but you always got to look at things as an opportunity. I think for Clemson and that staff that’s there and Coach Swinney, he’s gonna look at this as an opportunity to get better — believe it or not — and an opportunity to bring some fresh ideas, some new life, some new energy because all that’s always important. That’s gonna weigh a lot into his decision-making. That’s kind of how we’re looking at it from a parent standpoint and somebody that’s been around the program, myself, as an opportunity. It’s not as if the sky is falling. This is a great — in my opinion — opportunity for Clemson.

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Top recruits react to Elliott leaving Clemson for UVA

Following the news Friday that Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott was hired as the next head coach at Virginia, some top prospects gave their reactions to The Clemson Insider regarding the news. Here’s what they had to say: Monroe Freeling …

Following the news Friday that Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott was hired as the next head coach at Virginia, some top prospects gave their reactions to The Clemson Insider regarding the news.

Here’s what they had to say:

Monroe Freeling (pictured above), 2023 4-star OL, Oceanside Collegiate Academy (Mount Pleasant, S.C.): “It was crazy to actually hear about it since he was just down at my school just a week ago. I’m sure it’s a great opportunity for him and it’s cool he’s taken the next step. It’s definitely a tough loss for Clemson. As for my recruiting, I’m eager to see who they will hire for his replacement. It’ll be interesting to see how things will change!”

Kam Pringle, 2024 4-star OL, Woodland High School (Dorchester, S.C.): “I’m happy for Coach Elliott because he deserves it! Coach Elliott and I have developed a great relationship and I have already been considering my recruitment in Virginia prior to the news!”

Jayden Bradford, 2024 4-star QB, Chapin High School (Chapin, S.C.): “It was crazy hearing the news because he’s been there for a while and has had great success. But he’s moving forward in his career and doing what he believes is the best, and I’m sure he will do great things at Virginia.”

Clemson commit Blake Miller, 2022 4-star OL, Strongsville High School (Strongsville, Ohio): “I’m definitely happy for him, being able to get that job. I’m sure when it comes to Clemson, that Coach Swinney has a plan. He’ll get someone in there and things will be business as usual.”

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Swinney comments on Elliott’s departure, opportunity

Hours after Tony Elliott’s hiring at Virginia became official, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney commented on the departure of his former player and longtime assistant and offensive coordinator. “I just can’t tell you how happy I am for Tony, (his wife) …

Hours after Tony Elliott’s hiring at Virginia became official, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney commented on the departure of his former player and longtime assistant and offensive coordinator.

“I just can’t tell you how happy I am for Tony, (his wife) Tamika and (his sons) Ace and A.J. and also just how proud I am of Tony,” Swinney said in a statement released Friday night. “Man, it’s really, really been an amazing journey for me to watch Tony since 2003. He was in my first receiver group, a captain. And I’m not quite old enough to be his dad, but I look at him like a son. He really is special. I love him and his family with all my heart. I’m just so proud of him and all that he’s done since I hired him in 2011. And then obviously he had never called plays, and he’s leaving here as one of the best to do it. What he did from that bowl game in 2014 to now is just incredible.

“To see him now have a chance to go be the head coach at Virginia, like (former defensive coordinator) Brent (Venables) having the chance to go be the head coach at Oklahoma, it’s a blessing because I know what he’s going to bring. Those young men will be blessed by the way we do things here at Clemson. I have no doubt he’s going to be successful, and I’m super excited I’m still going to have a chance to interact with him on head coach calls, our ACC head coach meetings, etc.

“It’s good to see him move on and sad to see him move on, but it’s also exciting for new opportunity here as well.”

Elliott, a receiver during his playing days at Clemson, had been on Swinney’s staff since 2011 — the last seven seasons as a play-caller — before Virginia gave him his first head coaching job.

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What They Are Saying: Reactions to Elliott becoming UVA’s new coach

After Tony Elliott was named the University of Virginia’s next head football coach on Friday, current and former Clemson players and many others reacted to the news on Twitter. We take a look at what they are saying about the former Clemson …

After Tony Elliott was named the University of Virginia’s next head football coach on Friday, current and former Clemson players and many others reacted to the news on Twitter.

We take a look at what they are saying about the former Clemson offensive coordinator leaving the Tigers to take over as the new head man of the Cavaliers football program.

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Klubnik, Vizzina react to possibility of Streeter being next OC at Clemson

With Tony Elliott accepting the head coaching position at the University of Virginia on Friday, Clemson has an obvious need for a new offensive coordinator. The Tigers may not have to look too far for Elliott’s replacement should Dabo Swinney elect …

With Tony Elliott accepting the head coaching position at the University of Virginia on Friday, Clemson has an obvious need for a new offensive coordinator.

The Tigers may not have to look too far for Elliott’s replacement should Dabo Swinney elect to promote from within. And if he does, quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter presents himself as a logical candidate as the next man up to run Clemson’s offense.

To get a better understanding of how recruits and future Clemson players would react to a potential promotion, The Clemson Insider reached out to two quarterbacks who know Streeter very well — Westlake (Texas) 2022 five-star quarterback commit Cade Klubnik and Briarwood Christian (Birmingham, Ala.) 2023 four-star quarterback Christopher Vizzina.

Here’s what they had to say:

“I would say I’m closest with Coach Streeter out of anyone on the staff other than Coach Swinney,” Klubnik told TCI. “He was the first person I ever talked to at Clemson and I talk to him more than anyone else. We actually just got lunch (Wednesday), me and him. He came back to Austin and we had a really good hour and a half, just me and him. It was awesome.”

“I would be stoked for him if that ended up happening — I don’t know if it’s going to or not — but I would just be super happy with that happening. But also just super comfortable with him calling plays. He did it for six years. I think just as a former quarterback and also under Coach Elliott for a while, I think he’d be really comfortable. He would kill it.”

Klubnik brings up an interesting point. Streeter has been a coordinator before, holding that title during stints as an offensive assistant at Liberty and Richmond. Over those six years, he oversaw some of the better offenses in the country before ultimately returning to Clemson.

Vizzina’s sentiments echo that of Klubnik. 

“If Coach Streeter ends up getting promoted to offensive coordinator, he’s earned it,” Vizzina said. “I think he’s earned it as a person, and I think he’s a great coach. I think that anybody that gets to play for him, it’s a privilege to get to play for him. He’s a great person. If that happens for him, I’d be really happy for him.”

Needless to say, Streeter has some support from an integral part of Clemson’s future and another prospect who could very likely be a part of the team’s plans going forward.

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